The origin of chondrules: experimental investigation of metastable liquids in the system Mg2SiO4-SiO2

Laser-melted magnesium silicate droplets, supercooled 400–750°C below their equilibrium liquidus temperatures before crystallization, were examined to provide a comparison with meteoritic and lunar chondrules and to examine physicochemical parameters that may indicate the conditions of their formation. Internal textures of the spherules strikingly resemble textures observed in some chondrules. Definite trends in crystal morphology, crystal width and texture were established with respect to nucleation temperature and bulk composition. Such trends provide a framework for determining the nucleation temperature of chondrules. The only phase to nucleate from the supercooled forsterite-enstatite normative melts was forsterite, which was present in more-than-normative amounts. Highly siliceous glass (~65wt. % SiO₂) was identified interstitially to the forsterite crystals in seven of the spherules and is thought to be present in all. The presence of enstatite and the large proportion of crystals in some meteoritic chondrules implies that they were maintained at temperatures considerably in excess of 600°C at some point in their history.     

Simplified formulae for designing coastal forest against tsunami run-up: one-dimensional approach

In the present study, laboratory experiments were conducted to validate the applicability of a numerical model based on one-dimensional nonlinear long-wave equations. The model includes drag and inertia resistance of trees to tsunami flow and porosity between trees and a simplified forest in a wave channel. It was confirmed that the water surface elevation and flow velocity by the numerical simulations agree well with the experimental results for various forest conditions of width and tree density. Further, the numerical model was applied to prototype conditions of a coastal forest of Pandanus odoratissimus to investigate the effects of forest conditions (width and tree density) and incident tsunami conditions (period and height) on run-up height and potential tsunami force. The modeling results were represented in curve-fit equations with the aim of providing simplified formulae for designing coastal forest against tsunamis. The run-up height and potential tsunami forces calculated by the curve-fit formulae and the numerical model agreed within ± 10% error.     

RAGLAND,AN LL3.4 CHONDRITE FIND FROM NEW MEXICO

The Ragland, New Mexico chondrite was found in 1978, and consists of a single stone of 12.16 kg that broke into three pieces. The stone is moderately weathered and has a pronounced chondritic texture. Bulk composition favors an LL classification, and modal analysis and oxygen isotopic composition are consistent with this. The thermoluminescence sensitivity of 0.056 ± 0.020 normalized to Dhajala, compositional variability of olivine (mean Fa 18.3, σ = 10.1) and low-Ca pyroxene (mean Fs 14.6, σ = 6.7), and Ca concentrations in olivine indicate metamorphic subtype 3.4 ± 0.1. The isotopically heavy oxygen composition, which is characteristic of subtypes 3.0–3.1, may be a primary characteristic and not a result of weathering. Low concentrations of radiogenic ⁴⁰Ar and planetary ³⁶Ar suggest noble gas loss.     

Lateral structural variability in zone of eocene island-arc-continent collision,Kamchatka

The lateral variability of structural elements in the collision zone of the Cretaceous-Paleocene Achaivayam-Valagin island arc with the northeastern Asian margin is considered. The similarity and difference of Eocene collision structural elements in the north and the south of Kamchatka are shown. In northern Kamchatka, the continent-arc boundary is traced along the Lesnaya-Vatyn Thrust Fault, which completed its evolution about 45 Ma ago. The thin, near-horizontal allochthon of this thrust, composed of island-arc rocks, overlies the deformed but unmetamorphosed terrigeneous sequences of the Asian margin. The general structure of this suture in the Kamchatka Isthmus and southern Koryakia is comparable with the uppermost subduction zone, where a thin lithospheric wedge overlaps intensely deformed sediments detached from the plunging plate. In southern Kamchatka (Malka Uplift of the Sredinny Range), the arc-continent collision started 55–53 Ma ago with thrusting of island-arc complexes over terrigenous rocks of continental margin. However, the thickness of the allochthon was much greater than in the north. Immediately after this event, both the autochthon and lower part of allochthon were deformed and subsided to a significant depth. This subsidence gave rise to metamorphism of both the autochthon (Kolpakov and Kamchatka groups, Kheivan Formation) and lower allochthon (Andrianovka and Khimka formations). The anomalously fast heating of the crust was most likely related to the ascent of asthenospheric masses due to slab breakoff, when the Eurasian Plate was plunging beneath the Achaivayam-Valagin arc.     

Applying the HAZUS-MH software tool to assess seismic risk in downtown Ottawa,Canada

The aim of this paper is to present earthquake loss estimations for a portion of downtown Ottawa, Canada, using the HAZUS-MH (Hazards United States Multi-Hazard) software tool. The assessment is performed for a scenario earthquake of moment magnitude 6.5, at an epicentral distance of 15 km, occurring during business hours. A level 2 HAZUS-MH analysis was performed where the building inventory, microzonation studies, and site-specific ground motion hazard maps (2% exceedence probability in 50 years) were all improved based on local information. All collected data were assembled into a set of standard geodatabases that are compatible with the HAZUS-MH software using a GIS-specific procedure. The results indicate that the greatest losses are expected in unreinforced masonry buildings and commercial buildings. Sensitivity studies show that soil classes, the vulnerability of schools, and the spatial scale of loss estimations are also important factors to take into account.     

Geochemical characteristics and LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb age of the Lanhualing granite in Ningguo,Anhui ProvinceEI北大核心CSCD

The Lanhualing tungsten-molybdenum deposit is a skarn-type deposit located in Ningguo county, Anhui province. This deposit is mainly hosted in the Yinzhubu Formation and the Yanwashan Formation of Ordovician, and genetically related to the Lanhualing granite. The Lanhualing granite belongs to high-K calc-alkaline series with high alkali (Na2O+K2O=4.00%-7.03%), SiO2 (67.87%-74.92%) and MgO (0.62%-1.23%) contents. The granitic rocks show right-dipping chondrite normalized REE patterns with weak δEu anomalies. The granitic rocks are relatively enriched in large ion lithophile elements (LILE) and depleted in high field strength elements (HFSE). The ore-bearing granite was dated at 148.17±0.94 Ma by LA-ICP-MS zircon U-Pb method. The late Yanshanian is the main tungsten mineralization epoch in the South Anhui-north Jiangxi area; and indeed, the Dongyuan, Zhuxi, Yangchuling, Dahutang and other large and super-large tungsten deposits were formed in this period. Geochemical Characteristics of the Lanhualing granite indicate a crustal source but with mantle input under tectonic regime of compression thickening. ©, 2015, Science Press. All right reserved.     

The late Tonian Zhaunkar granite complex of the Ulutau sialic massif,Central Kazakhstan

The crystallization age of Zhaunkar granites (829 ± 10 Ma) was determined by U–Pb zircon dating. Taking into account the data obtained earlier on the granite age (791 ± 7 Ma) in the Aktas Complex and the syenite age (673 ± 2 Ma) in the Karsakpai Complex, the Ulutau sialic massif is assumed to be composed of three igneous complexes formed during the Tonian–Cryogenian periods of the Neoproterozoic.     

The Selection of Temperature for High Temperature Combustion of Carbon

The rate of oxidation of different organic matters varied greatly at combustion temperatures lower than 800 °C. While some materials were oxidized rapidly, others produced peaks with extremely long tails which were difficult to integrate accurately. At 550 °C, where calcium carbonate still remained intact, the determination of carbon consumed much more time and yielded a poorer accuracy when compared with combustion at 950°C. Above 550 °C calcium carbonate decomposes and produces peaks which overlap with those of organic carbon. An accurate correction for carbonate in the results of organic carbon analysis cannot thus be established, in practice, and separate determinations of total and inorganic carbon should be carried out, organic carbon being obtained by subtraction. To achieve the most accurate results the use of 950… 1000°C is recommended for the determination of both total, and carbonate, carbon.