New merlin observations of OH/IR stars: OH357.31-1.33 and OH0.9+1.3

We present recent radio interferometer measurements of the OH 1612 MHz maser emission from the OH/IR sources OH0.9+1.3 and OH357.31 obtained with the enhanced MERLIN. Some preliminary results are briefly discussed. These results are part of an on-going observational campaign to obtain the best radio maps of bright OH/IR stars with MERLIN, VLA and VLBA, in order to understand the nature and dynamics of their circumstellar matter and evolution.     

Formation of continental flood volcanism — The perspective of setting of melting

Models of continental flood basalt (CFB) formation are evaluated by examining their implications for the setting, mainly temperature and depth, of melting which is assumed to result from adiabatic decompression. Most attractive is the model of melting in upwelling bodies (probably plume heads) rising to the base of the continental lithosphere. This constrains the melting to 120–150 km or deeper (continental lithospheric thickness) and thus the plume potential temperatures to ≥ 300 °C higher than ambient mantle. The primary melts should be hot, MgO-rich, modified during ascent, and assimilate components of the lithosphere, which can provide the continental-like geochemical signature of many CFB. Circulation within the upwellings and presence of eclogite patches also influence magma generation and composition. Dehydration melting when plumes heat the lowermost lithosphere can generate CFB only if the source region contains ca. 15% hydrous minerals beneath the entire area covered by flood volcanics, which is difficult to justify. On the other hand, assimilation of “continental” chemical components from large parts of the lithosphere does not require such extreme metasomatism. Decompression melting under strongly thinned rifted lithosphere requires lower potential temperatures of the rising material and lesser modification of the primary magmas than the plume head model of CFB formation. Available observations do not support the contemporaneity of flood volcanism with rifts having the required sizes and histories, but more information is needed to further test this model. On the other hand, magma production can assist rift initiation and lithospheric rupture, so subsequent thinning can explain the common formation of volcanic rifted margins immediately following CFB emplacement. Ancient LIP should record the same processes as seen in young CFB.     

Mercury pollution in sediments,benthic organisms and inshore fishes of Haifa Bay,Israel

Total mercury concentrations were determined in surficial sediments, eleven species of benthic organisms and six species of fish from Haifa Bay, Israel. The results show that essentially all of the shallow water zone of the Bay receives anthropogenic mercury. A mercury-cell chlor-alkali plant was identified as the source of pollution. Surficial sediments in the vicinity of the plant, containing up to 0·99 μg Hg/g dry weight, were up to 157 times enriched in mercury relative to an unpolluted area. Mercury levels in the benthic organisms reflected the levels in the sediments. Maximal concentrations reaching 38·7 and 18·2 μg Hg/g dry weight were found in the carnivorous gastropod molluscs Arcularia circumcinta and Arcularia gibbosula, respectively. In all fish species, specimens caught in Haifa Bay had higher mercury concentrations in the muscle tissue than specimens caught south of the Bay. A maximal value of 1·66 μg Hg/g wet weight was recorded in Diplodus sargus.     

Magnetic survey of Lake Kinneret-central Jordan Valley,Israel

A magnetic survey of Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) was conducted on a 1 km grid of north-south and east-west lines. The results indicate that the margins of the lake are associated with large amplitude anomalies, while the centre is quite smooth. The largest anomaly, more than 500 nT, was detected in the vicinity of the entrance of the Jordan River into the lake. Its source is interpreted to be Late Cenozoic basaltic flows. The lake's margins are associated with faults, hot springs and magnetic anomalies. A broad magnetic anomaly trending east-northeast extends from Ginosar Valley into the lake through most of the lake's width. The distribution of basalt flows of different ages and the various structures of the magnetized layers are all contributing to the magnetic anomaly pattern.