Variation of the phase composition of C2 chondrites on heating

The kinetics of metamorphism of the Staroe Boriskino C2 chondrite heated at 450°C in an inert atmosphere of helium flow was investigated. After being heated at 450°C during 160 minutes one specimen was moreover heated for 10 minutes at 500°C. The phase distribution was determined by means of Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and electron probe microanalysis.The material changes rapidly (1–2 minutes). As a result of dehydration, the iron of the phyllosilicate is oxidized, the charge compensation being realized through the removal of iron and magnesium cations with the formation of magnetite and forsterite. Upon 10 minutes additional heating at 500°C iron appears in the olivine structure, the degree of iron oxidation declines, and magnetite disappears. Possible trends of change of C2 chondrite material are:

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内蒙古阴山地区特异区域重磁场与深部构造

根据内蒙古阴山山系及邻近地区的布格重力异常分布特征，发现阴山、大青山山地和呼包盆地地区的布格重力异常分布与地形高程呈“同步型”的特异变化特征.而该地区航磁异常分布呈现为阴山山区是大面积负磁异常区，呼包盆地为强正磁异常区的特异磁异常分布特征.通过对地震、大地电磁数据、特别是重力数据资料的处理分析，给出阴山山系和呼包盆地地区的地壳结构，均表明地壳底界面都没有明显的下凹与上凸，且盆地北缘为两大块体的接触带.这些特征可能表征着阴山山系和呼包盆地重磁异常呈特异变化的一些原因.     

PGE fractionation in seafloor hydrothermal systems: examples from mafic- and ultramafic-hosted hydrothermal fields at the slow-spreading Mid-Atlantic Ridge

The distribution of platinum group elements (PGEs) in massive sulfides and hematite–magnetite±pyrite assemblages from the recently discovered basalt-hosted Turtle Pits hydrothermal field and in massive sulfides from the ultramafic-hosted Logatchev vent field both on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge was studied and compared to that from selected ancient volcanic-hosted massive sulfide (VHMS) deposits. Cu-rich samples from black smoker chimneys of both vent fields are enriched in Pd and Rh (Pd up to 227 ppb and Rh up to 149 ppb) when compared to hematite–magnetite-rich samples from Turtle Pits (Pd up to 10 ppb, Rh up to 1.9 ppb). A significant positive correlation was established between Cu and Rh in sulfide samples from Turtle Pits. PGE chondrite-normalized patterns (with a positive Rh anomaly and Pd and Au enrichment), Pd/Pt and Pd/Au ratios close to global MORB, and high values of Pd/Ir and Pt/Ir ratios indicate mafic source rock and seawater involvement in the hydrothermal system at Turtle Pits. Similarly shaped PGE chondrite-normalized patterns and high values of Pd/Pt and Pd/Ir ratios in Cu-rich sulfides at Logatchev likely reflect a similar mechanism of PGE enrichment but with involvement of ultramafic source rocks.     

Corundum-group minerals in rocks of the Khibiny alkaline pluton,Kola Peninsula

Five minerals of the corundum group have been identified in the Khibiny pluton with certainty. Corundum proper and karelianite occur only in hornfels after volcanic and sedimentary rocks. Xenoliths of hornfels mark the ring faults that bound foidalite within the field of foyaite. Hematite occurs in hydrothermally altered nepheline syenite and crosscutting hydrothermal veins related to the ring faults. Minerals of the ilmenite-pyrophanite series are present in all rocks of the pluton, including veins. Accessory ilmenite in foyaite varies from the manganese variety and pyrophanite in the inner and outer parts of the pluton to manganese-free ilmenite in zone of the Main Ring Fault. In xenoliths of volcanic rocks and alkaline ultramafic rocks, ilmenite is enriched in magnesium. The zoning in distribution of the above-mentioned minerals and the character of variation in their compositions from margins of the pluton to its center are consistent with the petrochemical zoning formed as a result of foyaite alteration of near ring faults.     

A new insight into the problem of annual periodicity of the electric resistivity of the Earth’s crust in earthquake prediction research

As a result of the analysis of both the monitoring data of the electric resistivity of the Earth’s crust at the Garm test site using a modified method of dipole sounding and the earthquake catalogue of this test site it is shown that annual periodicity exists not only in the variations of the electric resistivity of the Earth’s crust but also in seismicity. It is not clear yet whether the appearance of the annual periodicity in the variations of electric resistivity is related to the influence of the periodic processes of earthquake nucleation on this process or both processes are synchronized by a third, unknown process. The results of the investigation show that the annual component of time variations in the electric resistivity contains important information about the processes in the Earth’s crust and should not be filtered out but, in contrast, studied in detail. The joint analysis of periodic components in the compared time series of the electric resistivity of the Earth’s crust and earthquakes opens new possibilities for deeper understanding of the processes of seismicity genesis and for improving the methods of strong earthquakes prediction.     

Assessing the intensity of the September 17, 2003, Khoito-Gol earthquake from instrumental and macroseismic data

The present study is devoted to the assessment of shaking intensities due to the September 17, 2003, earthquake occurring in the Khoito-Gol basin (southwestern flank of the Baikal Rift System). The instrumental and macroseismic data used here were acquired during an investigation into the impact of this seismic event. The highest intensity of shaking, VI, was recorded at Khoito-Gol, the human settlement that was the nearest to the instrumental epicenter. A nonuniform distribution of intensity was found for different directions from the epicenter. A scatter of as much as two intensity units was recorded at one settlement.