Geochemical characteristics of zircons in the Ashizuri A‐type granitoids: An additional granite topology tool for detrital zircon studies

Zircon is resistant to alteration over a wide range of geological environments, and isotopic ratios within the mineral provide constraints on ages and their parental magmas. Trace element compositions in zircon are also expected to reflect those of their parent magmas, and have a potential as essential indicators for their host rocks. Because most detrital zircons that accumulate at river mouths are derived primarily from granitoids, the classification of zircon within granitoids is potentially meaningful. This study employs the conventional classification scheme of granites (I‐, S‐, M‐, and A‐types). To clarify geochemical characteristics of zircons in A‐type granites, trace element compositions of zircons extracted from the A‐type Ashizuri granitoids were examined. Zircons from the Ashizuri granitoids commonly show enrichments of heavy rare earth elements and positive Ce anomalies, indicating that these zircons were igneous in origin. In addition, zircons in these A‐type granites are characterized by enrichments of Nb, Y, Ta, Th, and U and strong negative Eu anomalies, which exhibit good positive correlations with those in their whole rocks. This fact indicates that these signatures in zircons reflect well those in their parental bodies and are useful in identifying zircons derived from A‐type granite. Based on compilations of available data, zircons from A‐type granites can be clearly discriminated from other‐types of granites within Nb/Sr–Eu anomaly, U/Sr–Eu anomaly, Nb/Sr–U/Sr, and Nb/Sr–Ta/Sr cross‐plots. All indices used in these diagrams were selected based on the geochemical features of both zircon and whole rock of A‐type granites. Application of these discrimination diagrams to detrital zircons will likely provide further insights. For example, some Hadean detrital zircons plot in similar fields to A‐type granites, implying the existence of A‐type magmatism in the Earth's earliest history.     

Microscopic oxygen isotopic homogeneity/heterogeneity in the matrix of the Vigarano CV3 chondrite

Two-dimensional ¹⁸O/¹⁶O isotopic analysis of the Vigarano matrix was conducted by secondary ion-imaging using a novel two-dimensional ion-imager. Quantitative oxygen-isotope images (isotopographs) of the Vigarano matrix show that ¹⁶O-rich micrograins are scattered within ¹⁶O-poor matrix. This heterogeneous O-isotopic distribution indicates that matrix is composed of different O-isotopic components that formed in different locations and/or at different times. However, the O-isotopic composition of groundmass in the matrix is the same as the bulk isotopic composition of the matrix within ±5‰ uncertainty. The spatial resolution and isotopic precision of our technique should allow submicron-size objects (>0.2 μm) with extreme O-isotopic anomalous characteristics (δ¹⁸O_SMOW ∼250‰) to be detectable in isotopographs. Because the mean grain size of the matrix is ∼0.2 μm, the inability to detect such O-isotopic anomalous objects indicates that isotopically anomalous micrograins (e.g., presolar grains) are extremely rare in the Vigarano matrix and that most objects in the matrix were formed in the solar nebula or in the parent body.     

Differential Fractionation of Rare Earth Elements in Oxidized and Reduced Granitic Rocks: Implication for Heavy Rare Earth Enriched Ion Adsorption Mineralization

Ion adsorption rare earth element (REE) deposits in southern China are the exclusive source of heavy REEs (HREEs) in the world, and this HREE‐enriched character of the deposits is inherited from the REE compositions of the underlying granitic rocks. Such HREE‐enriched rocks form from heavy fractionation of reduced granitic magmas. We explore why reduced granitic magmas are enriched in HREEs during the fractionation, based on the REE geochemistry of granitic rocks and abundance of REEs in their constituent minerals in the southwestern Japan arc of Cretaceous to Paleogene age. The compilation of the whole rock geochemistry and REE compositions of the granitic rocks of the Sanin (oxidized), Sanyo (reduced) and Ryoke (reduced) belts in the southwestern Japan arc indicates that: (i) light REEs (LREEs) decease with fractionation of the granitoids in the Sanin belt but this trend is not clear in the granitoids in the Sanyo belt and LREEs rather increase in the Ryoke granitoids; (ii) Eu decreases with fractionation in all the belts; and (iii) HREEs slightly, but steadily decrease in the Sanin belt but enrich significantly in the Sanyo and Ryoke belts with fractionation. Analytical results of REE concentrations by scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscope and laser ablation‐inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer in the constituent minerals in a granodiorite sample from the Sanin belt show a moderate concentration of REEs in hornblende (577 ppm) in addition to high concentrations in allanite (~20 %), britholite (~30 %), primary titanite (8922 ppm), apatite (4062 ppm), and zircon (1693 ppm). Because primary titanite and allanite are commonly present in the oxidized granitoids but not in the reduced ones, the REE depletion in the fractionated, oxidized granites is attributed to the crystallization of these minerals. In contrast, scarcity of these minerals in the reduced granitoids enriches REEs, in particular HREEs in the fractionated magmas, which finally precipitate REEs in the granites and pegmatites. Both positive, but different correlation ratios between the Nb and Dy concentrations in the granitoids of the Sanin and Sanyo‐Ryoke belts suggest that columbite–pyrochlore‐group and fergusonite‐group minerals are the major HREE host in the oxidized and reduced granites, respectively.     

Lithium isotopic systematics of peridotite xenoliths from Hannuoba, North China Craton: Implications for melt-rock interaction in the considerably thinned lithospheric mantle

Li concentrations and isotopic compositions of coexisting minerals (ol, opx, and cpx) from peridotite xenoliths entrained in the Hannuoba Tertiary basalts, North China Craton, provide insight into Li isotopic fractionation between mantle minerals during melt-rock interaction in the considerably thinned lithospheric mantle. Bulk analyses of mineral separates show significant enrichment of Li in cpx (2.4-3.6 ppm) relative to olivine (1.2-1.8 ppm), indicating that these peridotites have been affected by mantle metasomatism with mafic silicate melts. Bulk olivine separates (δ⁷Li ∼ +3.3‰ to +6.4‰) are isotopically heavier than coexisting pyroxenes (δ⁷Li ∼ −3.3‰ to −8.2‰ in cpx, and −4.0‰ to −6.7‰ in opx). Such large variation suggests Li elemental and isotopic disequilibrium. This conclusion is supported by results from in situ SIMS analyses of mineral grains where significant Li elemental and isotopic zonations exist. The olivine and opx have lower Li concentrations and heavier Li isotopes in the rims than in the cores. This reverse correlation of δ⁷Li with Li concentrations indicates diffusive fractionation of Li isotopes. However, the zoning patterns in coexisting cpx show isotopically heavier rims with higher Li abundances. This positive correlation between δ⁷Li and Li concentrations suggests a melt mixing trend. We attribute Li concentration and isotope zonation in minerals to the effects of two-stage diffusive fractionation coupled with melt-rock interaction. The earliest melts may have been derived from the subducted oceanic slab with low δ⁷Li values produced by isotopic fractionation during the dehydration of the seawater-altered slab. Melts at later stages were derived from the asthenosphere and interacted with the peridotites, producing the Li elemental and isotopic zoning in mineral grains. These data thus provide evidence for multiple-stage peridotite-melt interaction in the lithospheric mantle beneath the northern North China Craton.     

Structural controls on the 1998 volcanic unrest at Iwate volcano: Relationship between a shallow, electrically resistive body and the possible ascent route of magmatic fluid

Magnetotelluric (MT) measurements were conducted at Iwate volcano, across the entirety of the mountain, in 1997, 1999, 2003, 2006, and 2007. The survey line was 18 km in length and oriented E–W, comprising 38 measurements sites. Following 2D inversion, we obtained the resistivity structure to a depth of 4 km. The surface resistive layer (~ several hundreds of meters thick) is underlain by extensive highly conductive zones. Based on drilling data, the bottom of the highly conductive zone is interpreted to represent the 200 °C isotherm, below which (i.e., at higher temperatures) conductive clay minerals (smectite) are rare. The high conductivity is therefore mainly attributed to the presence of hydrothermally altered clay. The focus of this study is a resistive body beneath the Onigajo (West-Iwate) caldera at depths of 0.5–3 km. This body appears to have impeded magmatic fluid ascent during the 1998 volcanic unrest, as inferred from geodetic data. Both tectonic and low-frequency earthquakes are sparsely distributed throughout this resistive body. We interpret this resistive body as a zone of old, solidified intrusive magma with temperatures in excess of 200 °C. Given that a similar relationship between a resistive body and subsurface volcanic activity has been suggested for Asama volcano, structural controls on subsurface magmatic fluid movement may be a common phenomenon at shallow levels beneath volcanoes.     

Seismic capacity of retrofitted beam–column connections in high‐rise steel frames when subjected to long‐period ground motions

The seismic capacity of beam‐to‐column connections in steel high‐rise frames is a matter of concern, particularly when they are subjected to long‐period ground motions. A previous full‐scale shaking table test conducted at the E‐Defense National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention in Japan disclosed cracks and fractures in such beam‐to‐column connections. This paper examines the effects of three types of beam‐to‐column connection retrofit: supplemental welds, wing plates, and a haunch. Quasi‐static member tests and a series of shaking table tests applied to a full‐scale specimen are conducted to quantify the respective performances of the retrofit schemes. The performance of a total of 28 connections tested by the member and shaking table tests is evaluated together with that of an additional 12 unretrofitted connections tested in the previous test. When the supplemental welds are applied only to the shear tab to the web, the connection fractures at the same instant as the connection without retrofit. The corresponding cumulative plastic rotation is not improved. When the supplement welds are further applied to the web‐to‐column connection, strain concentration at the bottom flange, primarily promoted by the presence of the RC floor slab, is significantly reduced, and the cumulative plastic rotation capacity is increased to eight times that of the connection without retrofit. For the wing plate connection and haunch connection, the critical section is moved from the beam end to the beam cross‐section corresponding to the tip of the wing plates or haunch, resulting in an improvement of ductility by eight times that of the unretrofitted connection. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Latitudinal and downcore (0–750 ka) changes in n-alkane chain lengths in the eastern equatorial Pacific

The n-alkane C₃₁/(C₂₉ + C₃₁) ratios from surface sediments in the eastern equatorial Pacific (EEP) exhibit higher values to the north and lower values to the south across the southern edge (2–4°N) of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Since plants tend to synthesize longer chain length n-alkanes in response to elevated temperature and/or aridity, the higher C₃₁/(C₂₉ + C₃₁) ratios at northern sites suggest a higher contribution of vegetation under hot and/or dry conditions. This is consistent with the observation that northern sites receive higher levels of plant waxes transported by northeasterly trade winds from northern South America, where hot and dry conditions prevail. Furthermore, from a sediment core covering the past 750 ka (core HY04; 4°N, 95°W) we found that C₃₁/(C₂₉ + C₃₁) ratios exhibit a long-term decrease from MIS (marine oxygen isotope stage) 17 to 13. During this period, the zonal SST (sea-surface temperature) gradient in the equatorial Pacific increased, suggesting an increase in Walker circulation. Such intensified Walker circulation may have enhanced moisture advection from the equatorial Atlantic warm pool to the adjacent northern South America, causing arid regions in northern South America to contract, which may explain long-term decrease in n-alkane chain lengths.     

Characteristics of an atypical large-meander path of the Kuroshio current south of Japan formed in September 2017

Since September 2017, the Kuroshio has taken a large-meander (LM) path in the region south of Japan. We examined characteristics of the 2017–present LM path in comparison with previous LM paths, using tide gauge, altimetric sea surface height, and bottom pressure data. The 2017–present LM path was formed from a path passing through a channel south of Hachijo-jima Island, while a typical LM path originated from a path through a channel north of Miyake-jima Island. The meander trough of this atypical path was found to be shifted far to the east and to vary on a timescale of months. These characteristics are different from those of a typical LM path but they are similar to those of the 1981–1984 LM path. Therefore, we identified two types of LM path; a stable and unstable LM paths. The 2017–present unstable type large meander has a zonal scale greater than that of the 2004–2005 stable type large meander and protrudes from the eastern boundary of the Shikoku Basin, i.e., Izu-Ogasawara Ridge. No significant bottom pressure depression was observed, associated with the formation of the 2017–present LM path, indicating that baroclinic instability was not important in the formation of this LM path. Due to no significant bottom steering, even during the 2017–present LM period, a mesoscale current path disturbance occurred southeast of Kyushu, propagated eastward, and amplified the offshore displacement of the Kuroshio.

     

The Structure of Young Stellar Jets and Winds Revealed by High Resolution [Fe II] λ1.644μm Line Observations

We present high angular resolution spectra taken along the jets from L1551 IRS 5 and DG Tau obtained with the Subaru Telescope. The position-velocity diagrams of the [Fe II] λ 1.644 μmemission line revealed remarkably similar characteristics for the two sources, showing two distinct velocity components separated from each other in both velocity and space with the entire emission range blueshifted with respect to the stellar velocity. The high velocity component (HVC) has a velocity of –200 ––300 km s^-1 with a narrow line width, while the low velocity component (LVC) is around –100 km s^-1 exhibitinig a broad line width. The HVC is located farther away from the origin and is more extended than the LVC. Our results suggest that the HVC is a well-collimated jet originating from the region close to the star, while the LVC is a widely-opened wind accelerated in the region near the inner edge of the accretion disk.