The onset of chaotic motion in the restricted problem of three bodies

A full characterization of a nonintegrable dynamical system requires an investigation into the chaotic properties of that system. One such system, the restricted problem of three bodies, has been studied for over two centuries, yet few studies have examined the chaotic nature of some ot its trajectories. This paper examines and classifies the onset of chaotic motion in the restricted three-body problem through the use of Poincaré surfaces of section, Liapunov characteristic numbers, power spectral density analysis and a newly developed technique called numerical irreversibility. The chaotic motion is found to be intermittent and becomes first evident when the Jacobian constant is slightly higher thanC ₂.     

Mercury in bottom sediments of marginal seas of northeast Asia

The analysis of the concentrations and distribution of mercury in bottom sediments of marginal seas in northeastern Asia revealed that its maximum contents are characteristic of areas with an active geodynamic regime and some areas of the Amur Bay in the Sea of Japan subjected to anthropogenic impact. The geochemical associations of mercury with other chemical elements and its background concentrations in bottom sediments of these sea basins are defined.     

The Uryakh ore field (NE Transbaikalia): Formation of structural assemblages in the centroid-type seismic regime

Syn-ore centroid type deformations that produced unusual structural assemblages are identified in the Uryakh ore field. The regularities of the deformation process comparable to a mechanism of the centroid-type seismic focus are established. The results of studying fluid inclusions suggest that the pressure—temperature parameters of the system correspond to conditions typical of the seismic regime. A model of formation of structural assemblages in a centroid-type dynamic regime with the participation of fluids is proposed for the first time.     

Evolution of sand waves in the Messina Strait, Italy

In the present paper the morphodynamics of sand waves in the Messina Strait, Italy, is analysed by comparing data gathered during two different surveys carried out in 1991 and 2001, respectively. In particular, a morphometric analysis on the most recent data and a qualitative analysis of the differences between bottom bedform patterns, are carried out. At locations characterised by greater depths, only minor changes to the planimetric configuration of the field, i.e. crest orientation (which is seen to be orthogonal to the direction of net gross sand transport) and wave length are observed, while differences in wave length and crest direction are more evident in more shallow areas. On the other hand, wave height has significantly increased in the whole field. A possible explanation of such a change, based on the previsions of a theory which relates sand-wave growth and migration to the main components of the tidal ellipse, is provided.Responsible Editor: Jens Kappenberg     

Permian age of the Burpala alkaline pluton, Northern Transbaikalia: Geodynamic implications

This paper presents the U-Pb zircon age of pulaskite of the main phase (294 ± 1 Ma) and the rare metal syenite (283 ± 8 Ma) of the Burpala alkaline pluton. The geochronological data show that it was formed in the Early Permian. By age, it is comparable with the Synnyr pluton of the Synnyr rift zone, alkaline granitic rocks and bimodal volcanic associations of the Uda-Vitim rift zone, and carbonatites of the Saizhen rift zone of the Central Asian foldbelt. These intraplate igneous complexes were formed almost simultaneously with crustal granitic rocks of the Angara-Vitim batholite. All of this gives ground to suppose that the origination of their parental melts is a result of the influence of the mantle hot spot or mantle plume on the lithosphere that led to extensive crustal anatexis.     

Diamonds from placers in western and central Africa: A problem of primary sources

This paper discusses diamonds and their accessory minerals from the Koidu kimberlites, placers on the Bafit River in Sierra Leone, and Chikapa placers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Minerals from the placers are characterized by fine preservation and bear no evidence of long-term transportation. In placers, garnet, ilmenite and zircon have been found, but the specific features of their chemical composition do not coincide with those of minerals from kimberlites. Diamonds from the placers are of a mantle origin, but they have no direct analogs in the known kimberlite and lamproite pipes.     

Heterotrophic microbial communities on the water-sediment boundary in the Kara Sea

The qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the heterotrophic microbial communities (bacteria, flagellates, and ciliates) in the thin water-sediment layer in the Kara Sea are analyzed. The bacterial abundance correlated with the concentration of organic matter, whereas their size depended on the abundance of heterotrophic flagellates. The number of species of heterotrophic flagellates increased with the increase in the bacterial number. A positive relationship between the bacterial abundance and the ration of heterotrophic flagellates was observed at the offshore stations, probably due to the grazing pressure. The density of the ciliates on the soft silty and sandy-silty sediments was extremely low. The share of upstream filter feeding ciliate species increased with the increase in the abundance of the flagellates, probably due to the shift to less selective feeding strategies at higher values of the food concentrations. The classification of the heterotrophic microbial communities in the surface sediment layer has revealed two distinct types of the communities. The river communities are rich in species and are characterized by the high abundance of microorganisms. They are gradually replaced by marine communities at the salinity of 9%.