Formation of extremely F-rich hydrous melt fractions and hydrothermal fluids during differentiation of highly evolved tin-granite magmas: a melt/fluid-inclusion study

Quartz crystals from topaz–zinnwaldite–albite granites from Zinnwald (Erzgebirge, Germany) contain, in addition to primary and secondary fluid inclusions (FIs), abundant crystalline silicate-melt inclusions (MIs) with diameters up to 200 m. These MIs represent various stages of evolution of a highly evolved melt system that finally gave rise to granite-related Sn–W mineralization. The combination of special experimental techniques with confocal laser Raman-microprobe spectroscopy and EMPA permits precise measurement of elevated contents of H₂O, F, and B in re-homogenized MIs. The contents of H₂O and F were observed to increase from 3 to 30 and 1.9 to 6.4 wt%, respectively, during magma differentiation. However, there is a second MI group, very rich in H₂O, with values up to 55 wt% H₂O and an F concentration of approximately 3 wt%. Ongoing enrichment of volatiles H₂O, F, B, and Cl and of Cs and Rb can be explained in terms of magma differentiation triggered by fractional crystallization and thus, is suggested to reflect elemental abundances in natural magmas, and not boundary-layer melts. Partitioning between melt and cogenetic fluids has further modified the magmatic concentrations of some elements, particularly Sn. The coexistence of two types of MIs with primary FIs indicates fluid saturation early in the history of magma crystallization, connected with a continuous sequestration of Sn, F, and B. The results of this study provide additional evidence for the extraordinary importance of the interplay of H₂O, F, and B in the enrichment of Sn during magma differentiation by decreasing the viscosity of and increasing the diffusivity in the melts as well as by the formation of various stable fluoride complexes in the melt and coexisting fluid.

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The development of volcanic hosted massive sulfide and barite–gold orebodies on Wetar Island, Indonesia

Wetar Island is composed of Neogene volcanic rocks and minor oceanic sediments and forms part of the Inner Banda Arc. The island preserves precious metal-rich volcanogenic massive sulfide and barite deposits, which produced approximately 17 metric tonnes of gold. The polymetallic massive sulfides are dominantly pyrite (locally arsenian), with minor chalcopyrite which are cut by late fractures infilled with covellite, chalcocite, tennantite–tetrahedrite, enargite, bornite and Fe-poor sphalerite. Barite orebodies are developed on the flanks and locally overly the massive sulfides. These orebodies comprise friable barite and minor sulfides, cemented by a series of complex arsenates, oxides, hydroxides and sulfate, with gold present as <10 m free grains. Linear and pipe-like structures comprising barite and iron-oxides beneath the barite deposits are interpreted as feeder structures to the barite mineralization. Hydrothermal alteration around the orebodies is zoned and dominated by illite–kaolinite–smectite assemblages; however, local alunite and pyrophyllite are indicative of late acidic, oxidizing hydrothermal fluids proximal to mineralization. Altered footwall volcanic rocks give an illite K–Ar age of 4.7±0.16 Ma and a ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of 4.93±0.21 Ma. Fluid inclusion data suggest that hydrothermal fluid temperatures were around 250–270°C, showed no evidence of boiling, with a mean salinity of 3.2 wt% equivalent NaCl. The ³⁴S composition of sulfides ranges between +3.3 and +11.7 and suggests a significant contribution of sulfur from the underlying volcanic edifice. The ³⁴S barite data vary between +22.4 and +31.0, close to Miocene seawater sulfate. Whole rock ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr analyses of unaltered volcanic rocks (0.70748–0.71106) reflect contributions from subducted continental material in their source region. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr barite data (0.7076–0.7088) indicate a dominant Miocene seawater component to the hydrothermal system. The mineral deposits formed on the flanks of a volcanic edifice at depths of ~2 km. Spectacular sulfide mounds showing talus textures are localized onto faults, which provided the main pathways for high-temperature hydrothermal fluids and the development of associated stockworks. The orebodies were covered and preserved by post-mineralization chert, gypsum, Globigerina-bearing limestone, lahars, subaqueous debris flows and pyroclastics rocks.     

TBT contamination identified in Antarctic marine sediments

We report for the first time butyltin contamination of near-shore sediments at six sites in the Ross Sea, Antarctica. A very high concentration of 2290 microg Sn kg(-1) sediment was recorded in one sample. The most likely source is abrasion of antifouling paint from the hulls of ice-breakers, but this pattern of contamination is also possible following ship groundings. Antifoulant biocides, such as TBT, have not been considered or detected in Antarctica previously and represent a new challenge to environmental managers and custodians.     

Mineralogy and possible origin of an unusual Cr-rich inclusion in the Los Martinez (L6) chondrite

Abstract— During a petrological study of the previously unclassified ordinary chondrite Los Martínez, we discovered a highly unusual Cr-rich inclusion which we believe is unique in both extraterrestrial and terrestrial mineralogy. The inclusion is highly zoned both compositionally and optically, with a Ca-Al rich, cloudy core and an opaque, Cr-Na-rich rim (up to 24 wt.% Cr₂O₃). Detailed SEM and TEM studies show that the inclusion now consists of a highly zoned, single crystal of plagioclase intergrown with chromium-rich spinel. The spinel has a well-developed crystallographic orientation relationship with the host plagioclase, which indicates that it is the product of exsolution. Although superficially similar to a plagioclase feldspar in composition, in detail the inclusion is Si-deficient and Al-enriched relative to a stoichiometric feldspar. We have not been able to identify a viable precursor mineral phase to the plagioclase-chromite intergrowth and suggest that it may be an unknown metastable phase. The Cr-rich precursors of the inclusion probably have close affinities to the chromite-plagioclase chondrules observed by Ramdohr (1967) in several ordinary chondrites. Based on the zoning in the inclusion, we suggest that it is the product of fractional crystallization from a melt, which may have formed as a liquid condensate, or by melting of solid condensates, in the solar nebula. Subsequent cooling of this melt condensate resulted in crystallization of the, as yet, unidentified phase. After crystallization, the inclusion was probably incorporated into a parent body where it underwent metamorphism and was probably shocked to some degree. During this period of parent body metamorphism, exsolution and decomposition of the unknown precursor occurred to produce the observed intergrowth of plagioclase and chromite. Finally, we have classified Los Martínez as an L6 ordinary chondrite breccia.     

Detection of λ = 2 cm emission from minor planet 15 Eunomia

Emission (2 cm) from 15 Eunomia was detected on March 27, 1983, using the VLA. At this time, 15 Eunomia was 2.0 AU distant from Earth. A flux density of 687 ± 70 μJy was measured at 14.96 GHz (50-MHz bandwidth). If 246 km is adopted for the diameter, a disk temperature of184 ± 20°K results. This is consistent with a rapidly rotating, black sphere with 15 Eunomia's diameter and distance (171°K).     

Tracking abrupt climate change in the Southern Hemisphere: a seismic stratigraphic study of Lago Cardiel, Argentina (49°S)

Lake sediments from a closed basin in southern Patagonia (Argentina) provide a continental archive with which to reconstruct climate change and to test the interhemispheric synchroneity of abrupt events. High-resolution sub-bottom seismic profiles of Lago Cardiel indicate substantial lake-level changes since the late Pleistocene, which were identified and dated in a series of long piston cores. These data allow the reconstruction of the regional water balance at 49=" PSFT − BC "202S since the late glacial. The seismic stratigraphy reveals a dry late glacial climate with a desiccation of the basin around 11 220 yr BP (¹⁴C). Lake level rapidly increased by 135 m at the Holocene transition. Following the early Holocene highstand at + 55 m, lake level never dropped significantly below modern level. The palaeoclimate changes implied by the Lago Cardiel record are out-of-phase with those implied by records from tropical South America and demonstrate considerable latitudinal asynchroneity in the climate evolution of this continent.     

A random number generator for ocean noise statistics

Ocean noise is characterized by both temporal and spectral properties. Time-domain statistics are often non-Gaussian, and spectra are typically non-white. Both attributes can be simulated at the same time by applying a spectral shaping filter to random numbers having a specified kurtosis. A method for generating random numbers with arbitrary kurtosis is presented     

Solar rotation results at Mount Wilson

We publish here rotation results from Doppler velocity measurements made at Mount Wilson over a period of more than 14 years. Altogether data from 188 rotations are presented. These results are displayed in various tables and figures. Measurements of scattered light along with its effect on the measured rotation rate are shown.