Multistage Variscan magmatism in the central Tauern Window (Austria) unveiled by U/Pb SHRIMP zircon data

U/Pb SHRIMP ages of nine Variscan leucocratic orthogneisses from the central Tauern Window (Austria) reveal three distinct pulses of magmatism in Early Carboniferous (Visean), Late Carboniferous (Stephanian) and Early Permian, each involving granitoid intrusions and a contemporaneous opening of volcano-sedimentary basins. A similar relationship has been reported for the Carboniferous parts of the basement of the Alps further to the west, e.g. the “External massifs” in Switzerland. After the intrusion of subduction-related, volcanic-arc granitoids (374?±?10?Ma; Zwölferkogel gneiss), collisional intrusive-granitic, anatectic and extrusive-rhyolitic/dacitic rocks were produced over a short interval at ca. 340?Ma (Augengneiss of Felbertauern: 340?±?4?Ma, Hochweißenfeld gneiss: 342?± 5?Ma, Falkenbachlappen gneiss: 343?±?6?Ma). This Early Carboniferous magmatism, which produced relatively small volumes of melt, can be attributed to the amalgamation of the Gondwana-derived “Tauern Window” terrane with Laurussia–Avalonia. Probably due to the oblique nature of the collision, transtensional phenomena (i.e. volcano-sedimentary troughs and high-level intrusives) and transpressional regimes (i.e. regional metamorphism and stacked nappes with anatexis next to thrust planes) evolved contemporaneously. The magmas are mainly of the high-K I-type and may have been generated during a short phase of decompressional melting of lithospheric mantle and lower crustal sources. In the Late Carboniferous, a second pulse of magmatism occurred, producing batholiths of calc-alkaline I-type granitoids (e.g. Venediger tonalite: 296?±?4?Ma) and minor coeval bodies of felsic and intermediate volcanics (Heuschartenkopf gneiss: 299?±?4?Ma, Peitingalm gneiss: 300?±?5?Ma). Prior to this magmatism, several kilometres of upper crust must have been eroded, because volcano-sedimentary sequences hosting the Heu- schartenkopf and Peitingalm gneisses rest unconformably on 340-Ma-old granitoids. The youngest (Permian) period of magma generation contains the intrusion of the S-type Granatspitz Central Gneiss at 271?±?4?Ma and the extrusion of the rhyolitic Schönbachwald gneiss protolith at 279?±?9?Ma. These magmatic rocks may have been associated with local extension along continental wrench zones through the Variscan orogenic crust or with a Permian rifting event. The Permian and the above-mentioned Late Carboniferous volcano-sedimentary sequences were probably deposited in intra-continental graben structures, which survived post-Variscan uplift and Alpine compressional tectonics.     

U-series evidence for crustal involvement and magma residence times in the petrogenesis of Parinacota volcano, Chile

In this study, we present Th–U disequilibria as well as radiogenic and trace element data for recent volcanic rocks from the Nevados de Payachata volcano which erupted through ∼70 km of continental crust in the Central Volcanic Zone of the Andes (18°S, 69°W). Both lavas and mineral separates were analyzed by mass spectrometry for ²³⁸U–²³⁰Th disequilibria. The lavas are characterized either by ²³⁰Th enrichment or depletion relative to its parent nuclide ²³⁸U. Mineral separates are used to derive U–Th isochron ages and these ages compare favorably with inferred stratigraphic ages or K–Ar ages, although in one case the U–Th age is significantly older than the stratigraphic age. Despite relatively constant Sr, Nd, and Pb isotope ratios, the lavas display inverse trends in ²³⁰Th/²³⁸U versus Ce/Yb or Ba/Hf diagrams. These trends cannot be interpreted by simple two-component mixing. Rather, there must be three (and perhaps four components) involved in the genesis of the Parinacota lavas. A mantle wedge, a slab fluid, and a lower crustal component can be identified. A sediment component is more difficult to detect as it is difficult to decipher its signature because of the strong crustal influence. The existence of binary arrays can be explained by variable amounts of crustal material. The process of crust–mantle interaction must have been short enough to preserve U–Th disequilibrium (<300 ka). Received: 21 April 1999 / Accepted: 11 March 2000     

Lippmann Diagrams: Theory and Application to Carbonate Systems

Since 1980 when F. Lippmann's seminal paper appeared, ourunderstanding of solubility equilibria involving ionic solidsolutions has been advanced by theoretical considerations as wellas careful experimental studies designed to determine excess Gibbsfunctions. A unified theory of solid-solution aqueous-solutionequilibria as well as the thermodynamic background of thephenomenon of ``stoichiometric saturation' are reviewed.It is shown that Lippmann diagrams effectively summarize thethermodynamic basis of solid-solute aqueous-solution equilibria ofsparingly soluble metal carbonate systems. Clearly, the predictivepower of these diagrams may be limited due to kineticrestrictions. Only when dissolution and precipitation areessentially reversible, favourable conditions to synthesizehomogeneous solid phases can be derived from studies of equilibria.     

Some modifications of Stokes' formula that account for truncation and potential coefficient errors

 Stokes' formula from 1849 is still the basis for the gravimetric determination of the geoid. The modification of the formula, originating with Molodensky, aims at reducing the truncation error outside a spherical cap of integration. This goal is still prevalent among various modifications. In contrast to these approaches, some least-squares types of modification that aim at reducing the truncation error, as well as the error stemming from the potential coefficients, are demonstrated. The least-squares estimators are provided in the two cases that (1) Stokes' kernel is a priori modified (e.g. according to Molodensky's approach) and (2) Stokes' kernel is optimally modified to minimize the global mean square error. Meissl-type modifications are also studied. In addition, the use of a higher than second-degree reference field versus the original (Pizzetti-type) reference field is discussed, and it is concluded that the former choice of reference field implies increased computer labour to achieve the same result as with the original reference field. Received: 14 December 1998 / Accepted: 4 October 1999     

Quartz Cement in Middle Jurassic Reservoir Sandstones in North Sea A Review. Part II： Duration and Silica Sources

The timing and duration of quartz cementation in sandstones have been mainly inferred from diagenetic texture, relationship between pore filling minerals, fluid inclusions and isotopic data. Fluid inclusion temperatures from North Sea reservoir sandstones indicate that most of the quartz cement forms at temperature exceeding 90℃ and is continually proceeding after oil emplacement, based on the fluid inclusion temperatures in quartz overgrowth which is approaching the bottom-hole temperatures. The duration of quartz cement after oil emplacement depends upon the saturation of porewater and the distribution of pore water film and the property of water-wet or oil-wet of the reactants. The leaching of K-feldspar by meteoric water requires pore water flow to move the released potassium and sodium and silica out the solution, which suggests the mechanism does not appear to be a major source of silica for quartz cementation. The quartz cementation coincidence with the compaction and pressure solution suggests the major source of silica. The alteration of feldspar by illitization of kaolinite may serve as another important source of silica at deep burial depth. External sources are not need to call on for illustrating the quartz cementation, because there is no evidences for large scale convection of pore water flow occurred in the burial history of reservoir sandstones of middle Jurassic in the North Sea.     

Analysis of the positive ionospheric response to a moderate geomagnetic storm using a global numerical model

Current theories of F-layer storms are discussed using numerical simulations with the Upper Atmosphere Model, a global self-consistent, time dependent numerical model of the thermosphere-ionosphere-plasmasphere-magnetosphere system including electrodynamical coupling effects. A case study of a moderate geomagnetic storm at low solar activity during the northern winter solstice exemplifies the complex storm phenomena. The study focuses on positive ionospheric storm effects in relation to thermospheric disturbances in general and thermospheric composition changes in particular. It investigates the dynamical effects of both neutral meridional winds and electric fields caused by the disturbance dynamo effect. The penetration of short-time electric fields of magnetospheric origin during storm intensification phases is shown for the first time in this model study. Comparisons of the calculated thermospheric composition changes with satellite observations of AE-C and ESRO-4 during storm time show a good agreement. The empirical MSISE90 model, however, is less consistent with the simulations. It does not show the equatorward propagation of the disturbances and predicts that they have a gentler latitudinal gradient. Both theoretical and experimental data reveal that although the ratio of [O]/[N₂] at high latitudes decreases significantly during the magnetic storm compared with the quiet time level, at mid to low latitudes it does not increase (at fixed altitudes) above the quiet reference level. Meanwhile, the ionospheric storm is positive there. We conclude that the positive phase of the ionospheric storm is mainly due to uplifting of ionospheric F2-region plasma at mid latitudes and its equatorward movement at low latitudes along geomagnetic field lines caused by large-scale neutral wind circulation and the passage of travelling atmospheric disturbances (TADs). The calculated zonal electric field disturbances also help to create the positive ionospheric disturbances both at middle and low latitudes. Minor contributions arise from the general density enhancement of all constituents during geomagnetic storms, which favours ion production processes above ion losses at fixed height under day-light conditions.     

Morphology of NmF2 nighttime increases in the Eurasian sector

A statistical analysis of two peaks (pre-midnight and post-midnight) occurrence in NmF2 daily variations was made on a latitudinal chain of four ionosonde stations in the Eurasian longitudinal sector. Overall 6182 cases of the first and 5600 cases of the second peak occurrence were analyzed using all available foF2 observations for the years of solar maximum and minimum. Well-pronounced and systematic variations with season and solar activity were revealed in the occurrence probability of the peaks, their amplitude and timing. The pattern of both peaks occurrence is similar during winter and equinoxes for midlatitude stations implying one and the same mechanism of their formation. The pre-midnight summer peak shows specific variations in particular during solar maximum pointing to a different mechanism controlling its appearance. Possible mechanisms of both peaks formation are discussed.     

On the way to a better state? The role of NGOs in the planning and implementation of protected areas in Brazil

Protected areas are considered some of the most versatile as well as important instruments of nature conservation and environmental policies. The `classic' model of nature conservation aims at the isolation of large areas in order to preserve their `pristine' nature from human interference. However, the transfer of this model to developing countries led to serious conflicts with local people. From a socio-geographical viewpoint, protected areas can be understood as regulative tools for the shaping and controlling of space. This approach helps to recognise the influence of distinct modes of appropriation of space and nature on the emergence and course of conflicts. In the present article it is used to analyse the leading role played by Brazilian NGOs in the transformation of the classic model of protected area management at the beginning of the nineties. Two case studies – dealing with the implementation of the Amazonian Mamirauá Reserve and with the reform of the Brazilian protected area legislation – are used to illustrate not only the success of the new approaches, but also the expectations and contradictions which surround the future development of protected areas in Brazil.     

The equatorial Atlantic oscillation and its response to ENSO

An internal equatorial Atlantic oscillation has been identified by analyzing sea surface temperature (SST) observations. The equatorial Atlantic oscillation can be viewed as the Atlantic analogue of the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon in the equatorial Pacific, but it is much less vigorous. The equatorial Atlantic oscillation is strongly influenced by the Pacific ENSO with the equatorial Atlantic sea surface temperature lagging by about six months. This lag can be explained by the dynamical adjustment time of the equatorial Atlantic to low-frequency wind stress variations and the seasonally varying background state, which favours strongest growth of perturbations in summer. Results of an extended-range simulation with a coupled ocean-atmosphere GCM support this picture.     

Style and evolution of salt pillows and related structures in the northern part of the Northeast German Basin

The northern part of the Northeast German Basin contains a large number of Late Permian (Zechstein) salt pillows, whereas diapiric structures are almost completely absent. This lack of diapirs facilitated the study of early stages of salt movement in the basin. Salt pillows and related structures were investigated in terms of distribution, geometry and time of initiation of salt flow within the regional geological context. The primary Zechstein thickness in the study area was reconstructed to gain more insight into the relationship between the geometry of the salt layer and the style of the salt-related structures. In this study, no clear spatial relationship between the salt structures and basement faults has been found and the location of the salt structures in this area appears to be highly independent of the underlying structural grain. The overburden is affected by minor faulting. We propose that buckling of the overburden due to regional compression significantly contributed to the initiation of the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous salt structures in the basin. Reverse faulting of the Gardelegen and Haldensleben Faults is related to inversion tectonics and exerted a compression on the basin fill. During the deformation, the Late Permian salt layer acted as an efficient detachment and led to a marked decoupling of the Mesozoic overburden from the underlying pre-Zechstein rocks.