Seepage and consolidation of bentonite saturated with pure- or salt-water by the method of unified molecular dynamics and homogenization analysis

Bentonite clay is a micro-inhomogeneous material, which consists of clay minerals (mainly montmorillonite), macro-grains (mainly quartz), water, air and others. Properties of the saturated bentonite clay are essentially characterized by the montmorillonite and water (i.e. montmorillonite hydrate). We analyze the molecular behavior of sodium montmorillonite hydrate Na_1/3Al₂[Si_11/3Al_1/3]O₁₀(OH)₂·nH₂O by applying a molecular dynamics (MD) simulation method. And by using the MD results we calculate the swelling property of the montmorillonite hydrate, and compare with an experimental result. Next, by using the same MD procedure we treat a montmorillonite mineral with a large number of external water molecules to check the properties of the water. Here we treat pure- and salt-water. Then we calculate the diffusivity and viscosity of water molecules and Na⁺ and Cl⁻ ions.

For extending the microscopic characteristics of constituent materials to a macroscopic seepage behavior of the micro-inhomogeneous material we apply a homogenization analysis (HA). That is, starting with the Navier–Stokes equation with distributed viscosity that is calculated by the former MD procedure we determine macroscopic permeability characteristics of bentonite for both cases of pure- and salt-water. Then, by using the permeability property we calculate long-term consolidation behavior of buffering clay, which is planed to be used for high-level radioactive waste (HLRW) management. Here the deformation is treated under the well-defined Cam clay model.     

Magmatic unmixing in spinel from late Precambrian concentrically-zoned mafic–ultramafic intrusions, Eastern Desert, Egypt

Spinel is widespread in the ultramafic core rocks of zoned late Precambrian mafic–ultramafic complexes from the Eastern Desert of Egypt. These complexes; Gabbro Akarem, Genina Gharbia and Abu Hamamid are Precambrian analogues of Alaskan-type complexes, they are not metamorphosed although weakly altered. Each intrusion is composed of a predotite core enveloped by pyroxenites and gabbros at the margin. Silicate mineralogy and chemistry suggest formation by crystal fractionation from a hydrous magma. Relatively high Cr₂O₃ contents are recorded in pyroxenes (up to 1.1 wt.%) and amphiboles (up to 1.4 wt.%) from the three plutons. The chrome spinel crystallized at different stages of melt evolution; as early cumulus inclusions in olivine, inclusions in pyroxenes and amphiboles and late-magmatic intercumulus phase. The intercumulus chrome spinel is homogenous with narrow-range of chemical composition, mainly Fe³⁺-rich spinel. Spinel inclusions in clinopyroxene and amphibole reveal a wide range of Al (27–44 wt.% Al₂O₃) and Mg (6–13 wt.% MgO) contents and are commonly zoned. The different chemistries of those spinels reflect various stages of melt evolution and re-equilibration with the host minerals. The early cumulus chrome spinel reveals a complex unmixing structures and compositions. Three types of unmixed spinels are recognized; crystallographically oriented, irregular and complete separation. Unmixing products are Al-rich (Type I) and Fe³⁺-rich (Type II) spinels with an extensive solid solution between the two end members. The compositions of the unmixed spinels define a miscibility gap with respect to Cr–Al–Fe³⁺, extending from the Fe³⁺–Al join towards the Cr corner. Spinel unmixing occurs in response to cooling and the increase in oxidation state. The chemistry and grain size of the initial spinel and the cooling rate control the type of unmixing and the chemistry of the final products. Causes of spinel unmixing during late-magmatic stage are analogous to those in metamorphosed complexes. The chemistry of the unmixed spinels is completely different from the initial spinel composition and is not useful in petrogenetic interpretations. Spinels from oxidized magmas are likely to re-equilibrate during cooling and are not good tools for genetic considerations.     

Time relationships between volcanism–plutonism–alteration–mineralization in Cu-stratabound ore deposits from the Michilla mining district,northern Chile: a <Superscript>40</Superscript>Ar/<Superscript>39</Superscript>Ar geochronological approach

The Michilla mining district comprises one of the most important stratabound and breccia-style copper deposits of the Coastal Cordillera of northern Chile, hosted by the Middle Jurassic volcanic rocks of the La Negra Formation. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar analyses carried out on igneous and alteration minerals from volcanic and plutonic rocks in the district allow a chronological sequence of several magmatic and alteration events of the district to be established. The first event was the extrusion of a thick lava series of the La Negra Formation, dated at 159.9 ± 1.0 Ma (2σ) from the upper part of the series. A contemporaneous intrusion is dated at 159.6 ± 1.1 Ma, and later intrusive events are dated at 145.5 ± 2.8 and 137.4 ± 1.1 Ma, respectively. Analyzed alteration minerals such as adularia, sericite, and actinolite apparently give valid ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau and miniplateau ages. They indicate the occurrence of several alteration events at ca. 160–163, 154–157, 143–148, and 135–137 Ma. The first alteration event, being partly contemporaneous with volcanic and plutonic rocks, was probably produced in a high thermal gradient environment. The later events may be related either to a regional low-grade hydrothermal alteration/metamorphism process or to plutonic intrusions. The Cu mineralization of the Michilla district is robustly bracketed between 163.6 ± 1.9 and 137.4 ± 1.1 Ma, corresponding to dating of actinolite coexisting with early-stage chalcocite and a postmineralization barren dyke, respectively. More precisely, the association of small intrusives (a dated stock from the Michilla district) with Cu mineralization in the region strongly suggests that the main Michilla ore deposit is related to a magmatic/hydrothermal event that occurred between 157.4 ± 3.6 and 163.5 ± 1.9 Ma, contemporaneous or shortly after the extrusion of the volcanic sequence. This age is in agreement with the Re–Os age of 159 ± 16 Ma obtained from the mineralization itself (Tristá-Aguilera et al., Miner Depos, 41:99–105,2006).     

Mid-chain ketocarboxylic acids in the remote marine atmosphere: Distribution patterns and possible formation mechanisms

In remote marine aerosol samples collected from the North Pacific ocean, Enewetak Atoll, American Samoa, and New Zealand, series of mid-chain ketocarboxylic acids in the range of C₆-C₁₈ were detected. All the positional isomers, except for the 2-oxo and 3-oxo species, were detected for major ketoacid families (e.g. C₉, C₁₁ and C₁₃). Higher ketoacid concentrations (up to 19 ng/m³) were obtained in the northern North Pacific aerosol samples, which generally showed an odd carbon-numbered predominance with 5-oxoundecanoic acid being the major species. By contrast, lower concentrations were obtained in the lower-latitude or subtropical aerosol samples, where even carbon-numbered ketoacids were relatively abundant.The distribution patterns of the odd carbon-numbered ketoacids could not be explained by the primary emissions from source materials including terrestrial higher plants, soil particles, and ocean surfaces. We consider that the isomeric ketocarboxylic acids are produced in the atmosphere by the photochemical oxidation of semi-volatile monocarboxylic acids, which are counterparts of the oxidative degradation of unsaturated fatty acids emitted from seawater surfaces. Atmospheric production of the ketoacids is seemingly enhanced in the northern North Pacific, probably due to an enhanced primary productivity.     

One-armed oscillations of a non-selfgravitating polytropic disk

One-armedglobal oscillations in a non-selfgravitating polytropic disk rotating around a star are investigated. The unperturbed disk is axisymmetric, geometrically thin, and extends infinitely in the radial direction keeping its thickness constant. Perturbations considered are inviscid and adiabatic. It is found that there are one-armed retrograde wave modes which are trapped in an inner region of the disk. The eignefrequency of the lowest order mode is given by _K(r _s)(z ₀/r _s)₂, wherer _s is the radius of the central star,z ₀ is the half-thickness of the disk, and _K(r _s) is the Keplerian angular frequency at the surface of the star.Paper presented at the IAU Third Asian-Pacific Regional Meeting, held in Kyoto, Japan, between 30 September–6 October, 1984.     

Accuracies of NOAA/NESDIS sea surface temperature estimation technique in the oceans around Japan

We have examined accuracies of nine nighttime National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NOAA/NESDIS) equations for SST estimation using the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR)/NOAA-11 dataset produced by Sakaida and Kawamura (1992). Among the nine equations, the revised triple-window CPSST algorithm gives the smallest rms error, which is 0.38°C. The dual-window MCSST algorithm gives the largest rms error 0.56°C. Rms errors of the other algorithms are smaller than 0.5°C.     

Seasonal Variation of Space/Time Statistics of Short-Term Sea Surface Temperature Variability in the Kuroshio Region

Spatial and temporal scales of sea surface temperature (SST) variations in the Kuroshio region have been investigated using a satellite-based one-year merged SST product. Targeting short-term variations with temporal scales of less than a year, decorrelation scales, which are defined as the e-folding scale of SST variability, have been derived as functions of regional positions and calendar months. We assumed that the autocorrelation function of SST has anisotropic Gaussian characteristics in the space-time domain. Resultant spatial and temporal decorrelation scales range from 1 to 3° and 2 to 3 days, respectively. They are strongly inhomogeneous, anisotropic and time-dependent. These characteristics are attributed to the oceanic and atmospheric disturbances. Spatial decorrelation scales are determined mainly by strong atmospheric forcing in the study region. In the area with dominant atmospheric forcing, the spatial scales are larger than those in the other regions. Those in the regions with dynamical oceanographic disturbances are as small as 1°. Signal-to-noise ratios are also large where the atmospheric forcing is strong, while they are small where the oceanic signals are active.     

Statistical study on the local equilibrium between wind and wind waves by using data from ocean data buoy stations

The local equilibrium between the wind and wind waves, which is defined by a range of the coefficient of the 3/2-power law between the non-dimensional significant wave height and period, is statistically investigated by using wind and wave data obtained at four ocean data buoy stations in the seas near Japan. The friction velocity is calculated from the wind speed measured at one height together with the significant wave period by using formulas of the wave dependent drag coefficient proposed by Tobaet al. (1990). The data for small waves or for weak winds indicate that the waves do not satisfy the criterion for the local equilibrium, because they may be affected by changing winds or remotely generated swells. In the seas near Japan, the data which satisfy the local equilibrium are about 6% through a year. Otherwise swells are dominant in most situations. Changing winds also cause deviations from the local equilibrium. The degree of satisfaction of the local equilibrium can be classified by ranges of the significant wave height. As the significant wave height exceeds 4 m, the local equilibrium is more frequently satisfied.