Determination of Chlorine Contents in Geological Survey of Japan Reference Materials by Prompt Gamma Neutron Activation Analysis

We determined chlorine contents in nine GSJ (Geological Survey of Japan) reference materials (JB-1, 1a, 2, 3; JA-1, 2, 3; JR-1, 2) by prompt gamma neutron activation analysis, employing the standard addition method. Pressed powder disks of each reference material were used for neutron irradiation and gammaray measurement, after known quantities (25-200 μl) of sodium chloride solution were added. The influence of the nearby sodium peak overlap was checked, and fluctuations in the chlorine count rate were corrected using silicon as an internal standard. The slopes of calibration lines for seven reference materials (JB-1, 2, 3; JA-1, 2, 3; JR-2) and SiO₂ powders fall within 5% error, and their chlorine values were obtained from the intercepts. Chlorine contents in JB-1 a and JR-1 were also determined by using the calibration lines. Our chlorine values ranged from 26.1 to 934 μg g-¹, which agrees well with the previously reported values.     

Connectivity of molten Fe alloy in peridotite based on in situ electrical conductivity measurements: implications for core formation in terrestrial planets

The connectivity of molten Fe-S in peridotite has been experimentally investigated by means of in situ electrical conductivity measurements at high temperatures and 1 GPa. Starting materials were powdered mixtures of peridotite KLB-1 with various amounts (0, 3, 6, 13, 19, 24 vol.%) of the 1 GPa eutectic composition in the Fe-FeS binary system. At temperatures above the eutectic point in the Fe-FeS system (∼980 °C) and below the solidus of KLB1 (∼1200 °C), molten Fe-S in a solid silicate matrix interconnects when the volume fraction is over ∼5%. Conductivity-temperature paths indicate that in the presence of partial silicate melting the connectivity of molten Fe-S in a peridotite matrix is inhibited. Based on observations of retrieved samples, the percolation threshold of Fe-S melts in the presence of low to moderate degrees of silicate melt is estimated at 13±2 vol.%. These results indicate that if the volume fraction of Fe-alloy in a planetesimal was initially greater than 5%, and if early heating by decay of radionuclides raised the temperature of the interior above the Fe-alloy melting point, initial metal segregation was controlled by permeable flow of molten iron alloy in a solid silicate matrix. These conditions were likely met by many terrestrial objects in the early solar nebula. Efficient removal of residual Fe-alloy (5 vol.%) from silicate requires high-degree melting of silicate so that metal can segregate as droplets. Giant impacts during the final stage of accretion of large planetary objects could supply the energy required for high-degrees of melting. Alternatively, if initial metal segregation were delayed until a planetary object grew to large size (∼1000 km in diameter), release of gravitational potential energy due to metal segregation could contribute enough heat to form a magma ocean.     

Determination of Ti, K, Sm and Gd Values in Geological Survey of Japan Reference Materials by Prompt Gamma Neutron Activation Analysis

Prompt gamma neutron activation analysis was applied to the determination of the titanium, potassium, samarium and gadolinium contents of nine Geological Survey of Japan (GSJ) reference materials (JB-1, 1a, 2, 3; JA-1, 2, 3; JR-1, 2). Firstly, the values in JB-1 were determined by the standard addition method: pressed powder disks of JB-1 were used for neutron irradiation and gamma-ray measurements, after known quantities of standard reagents had been added. Secondly, the contents of eight other reference materials were determined by comparison methods using JB-1 as the comparative standard. The precision of analyses were obtained by replicate determinations on these samples. The relative standard deviation was generally less than 5%. For most samples, analysed values agreed well (< 5%) with the recommended values.     

Shaking table tests on seismic response of steel braced frames with column uplift

Previous studies have suggested that rocking vibration accompanied by uplift motion might reduce the seismic damage to buildings subjected to severe earthquake motions. This paper reports on the use of shaking table tests and numerical analyses to evaluate and compare the seismic response of base‐plate‐yielding rocking systems with columns allowed to uplift with that of fixed‐base systems. The study is performed using half‐scale three‐storey, 1 × 2 bay braced steel frames with a total height of 5.3 m. Base plates that yield due to column tension were installed at the base of each column. Two types of base plates with different thicknesses are investigated. The earthquake ground motion used for the tests and analyses is the record of the 1940 El Centro NS component with the time scale shortened by a factor of 1/√2. The maximum input acceleration is scaled to examine the structural response at various earthquake intensities. The column base shears in the rocking frames with column uplift are reduced by up to 52% as compared to the fixed‐base frames. Conversely, the maximum roof displacements of the fixed and rocking frames are about the same. It is also noted that the effect of the vertical impact on the column associated with touchdown of the base plate is small because the difference in tensile and compressive forces is primarily due to the self‐limiting tensile force in the column caused by yielding of the base plate. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Eclipsing phenomena of the symbiotic star CH Cygni

Eclipsing phenomena of the inner binary with a period of 756 d in the triple symbiotic system CH Cyg may have been detected in detailed spectrophotometric observations. The eclipse of the hot component by the red giant started on 1994 October 11 and finished between 1995 January 8 and 18. The ingress duration was less than one day. The radius of the red giant is estimated to be 288 ± 15 R⊙ from the duration of the eclipse. Assuming the bolometric correction of the red giant (M7 III) as 4, the distance to this object is estimated to be 307 ± 32 pc, which agrees well with that obtained in the observations by Hipparcos . The interstellar extinction in the direction of this object may be much lower than that in the nearby areas. It has been suggested that the outer binary system with an orbital period of about 15 yr is an eclipsing one. It seems unlikely, however, that the variation of the activity of this object with a time-scale of more than 10 yr was a result of eclipses.     

Observational tests of x-matter models

We study gravitational lensing statistics, matter power spectra and the angular power spectra of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation in x-matter models. We adopt an equation of state of x-matter which can express a wide range of matter from pressureless dust to the cosmological constant. A new ingredient in this model is the sound speed of the x-component, in addition to the equation of state w ₀ =  p _x0/ρ_x0. Except for the cosmological constant case, the perturbations of x-matter itself are considered. Our primary interest is in the effect of non-zero sound speed on the structure formation and the CMB spectra. It is found that there exist parameter ranges where x-matter models are consistent with all current observations. The x-matter generally leaves imprints in the CMB anisotropy and the matter power spectrum, which should be detectable in future observations.     

Stray-light correction in magnetograph observations using the maximum entropy method

We have developed a method of stray-light correction which is applicable to filter-based magnetograph observations. Stray-light-corrected Stokes images are obtained by performing the deconvolution of observed Stokes images by the point spread function which is determined from the Stokes I image. For image deconvolution, the maximum entropy principle is used to guarantee that intensity should be positive and polarization degrees should be less than unity. We present an iterative algorithm for the maximum entropy method, which seeks the solution in Fourier space and thus accomplishes fast convergence. We find that our method is effective in correcting stray light which has a spread angle greater than the full width at half maximum of the point spread function. We also discuss the effect of stray light on magnetograph calibration.     

Regional metamorphic belts of the Japanese Islands

Abstract An overview of the regional metamorphic belts of Japan is given in the context of the tectonic evolution of the Japanese Islands. The Japanese Islands were situated on an active margin of the Eurasian continent or its constituent landmass before their assembly during the Phanerozoic. The Japanese Islands are composed mainly of metamorphosed and unmetamorphosed accretionary complexes, granitoids and their effusive equivalents that were formed by the Cordilleran-type orogeny. The metamorphic belts are regarded essentially as a deep-seated portion of an accretionary complex. In spite of continuous subduction of oceanic plates beneath the continents, these orogenic rocks were formed quite episodically, as evidenced by discontinuous matrix ages of the accretionary complexes and a striking concentration of isotopic ages of the granitoids. A systematic along-arc age shift of Cretaceous large-scaled granitic magmatism and regional metamorphism suggests a tectonic control such as ridge subduction, which triggered the episodic orogeny. A tectonic model based on the paired metamorphic belts, combined with the non-steady tectonic control, works well to explain this magmatism and metamorphism in a single arc-trench system as a continental margin process. However, the juxtapositional process of the paired metamorphic belts is still a problem. Two possible cases, namely transcurrent displacement and back-arc overthrusting are discussed.     

Phase equilibria in the system K2O-FeO-MgO-Al2O3-SiO2-H2O-CO2 and the stability limit of stilpnomelane in metamorphosed Precambrian iron-formations

The phase relations of Al- and Fe-bearing silicates in the system K₂O-FeO-MgO-Al₂O₃-SiO₂-H₂O-CO₂, in the presence of quartz and magnetite, are discussed on the basis of mineralogic and petrologic data from Precambrian iron-formations and blueschist facies meta-ironstone from the Franciscan Formation, California. These relations allow an estimation of the physiochemical conditions during low-grade metamorphism of iron-formations. Petrologic data together with available experimental and predicted thermodynamic data on the associated minerals place the upper stability limit of stilpnomelane in iron-formations at about 430–470° C and 5–6 kilobars. Fe-end member stilpnomelane can persist to a maximum temperature of 500° C and pressures up to 6–7 kilobars, although it is unlikely to occur in metamorphosed iron-formations. In iron-formation occurrences the stilpnomelane stability field is bordered by four equilibrium reactions with the assemblages stilpnomelane-zussmanite-chlorite-minnesotaite, stilpnomelane-zussmanite-chlorite-grunerite, stilpnomelane-biotite-chlorite-grunerite, and stilpnomelane-biotite-almandine-grunerite. The stability field is reduced by increasing X(CO₂) and X _Mg ^Stil , and is also a function of a(K ⁺)/ a(H ⁺) in the metamorphic fluid. If the value of a(K ⁺)/ a(H ⁺) is smaller than that defined by the above assemblages, stilpnomelane decomposes to chlorite, but if larger, it is replaced by biotite. At pressures less than 4 kilobars, the zussmanite field is restricted to a very high value of a(K ⁺)/a(H ⁺) (> 5.0 in log units at 1.0 kilobar) where iron-formation assemblages are not stable.