Geological Position,Age, and Sources of the Tallai Gabbro–Diorite–Plagiogranite Pluton (Middle Vitim Highland)

Doklady Earth Sciences - The results of geochronological study (U–Pb SHRIMP-II) of zircons from granodiorites and plagiogranites of the main phase of the Tallai pluton of the...     

The nature of the basement in the Archaean Dharwar craton of southern India and the age of the Peninsular Gneiss

The Archaean Peninsular Gneiss of southern India is considered by a number of workers to be the basement upon which the Dharwar supracrustal rocks were deposited. However, the Peninsular Gneiss in its present state is a composite gneiss formed by synkinematic migmatization during successive episodes of folding (DhF₁, DhF_1a and DhF₂) that affected the Dharwar supracrustal rocks. An even earlier phase of migmatization and deformation (DhF_*) is evident from relict fabrics in small enclaves of gneissic tonalites and amphibolites within the Peninsular Gneiss. We consider these enclaves to represent the original basement for the Dharwar supracrustal rocks. Tonalitic pebbles in conglomerates of the Dharwar Supergroup confirm the inference that the supracrustal rocks were deposited on a gneissic basement. Whole rock Rb-Sr ages of gneisses showing only the DhF₁ structures fall in the range of 3100–3200 Ma. Where the later deformation (DhF₂) has been associated with considerable recrystallization, the Rb-Sr ages are between 2500 Ma and 2700 Ma. Significantly, a new Rb-Sr analysis of tonalitic gneiss pebbles in the Kaldurga conglomerate of the Dharwar sequence is consistent with an age of ～2500 Ma and not that of 3300 Ma reported earlier by Venkatasubramanian and Narayanaswamy (1974). Pb-Pb ages based on direct evaporation of detrital zircon grains from the metasedimentary rocks of the Dharwar sequence fall into two groups, 3300–3100 Ma, and 2800–3000 Ma. Stratigraphic, structural, textural and geochronologic data, therefore, indicate that the Peninsular Gneiss of the Dharwar craton evolved over a protracted period of time ranging from > 3300 Ma to 2500 Ma.     

On the stimulation of acoustic emission in rock samples by electromagnetic fields

The combined impacts of the electromagnetic fields generated by two independent sources on the process of crack formation in loaded heterogeneous materials (rocks) are studied. The interest in such experiments lies in the fact that in natural conditions, the combination of several fields—the potential triggers of seismic activity—is rather the rule than the exception. It is shown by examples that in the conditions of crossed electric and magnetic fields (CrEMFs) the enhancement in acoustic activity can be triggered with a lower strength electric field than in case of the electric impact alone.     

A comparison of finely dispersed mineral components in fossil coals of the Kama and Donets basins

This study presents the results of SEM-EDX analysis of the mineral components of coals from the Kama (Volga-Ural region) and Donets basins and discusses the characteristics of the depositional environments and conditions of coalification. The results reveal differences in the mineral composition of coals from these two basins.     

Isotopic-geochronological systems in metamorphic rocks: Pon’goma Island,Belomorian mobile belt

Several isotopic methods (U-Pb, Sm-Nd, Rb-Sr, and K-Ar) were applied to different rock-forming and accessory minerals to decipher the chronology of events in a separate segment of the Belomorian mobile belt. Enderbites intruded supracrustal rocks at 2.73 Ga and granodiorites were emplaced at 2.41 Ga. Immediately afterwrads, a permeable schistosity zone was formed along the enderbite-granodiorite contact. Isotopic data indicate that this zone served as a pathway for heat and fluid. The retrograde stage of regional metamorphism and subsequent cooling continued from 1.89 Ga till ～ 1.46 Ga.The cooling rate of the Pon’goma Island rocks is similar to that of other Precambrian complexes and amounted to ～1.5⁰/Ma, which is consistent with previous data on the northern segment of the Belomorian belt. Based on isotopic geochronological data, two tectonometamorphic scenarios can be proposed for the evolution of the Belomorian belt. The first scenario suggests long-term regional metamorphism, i.e., lengthy residence of the Archean and Lower Proterozoic rocks at a significant depth and high temperatures. Geochronological data for different systems (U-Pb, Sm-Nd, Rb-Sr, and K-Ar) suggest Caledonian hydrothermal cryptometamorphic processes. However the rocks of this age are absent from the study area.     

Sr-Nd-Pb isotopic systems in basalts of the Franz Josef Land Archipelago

Rb, Sr, Sm, Nd, U, and Pb contents and Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopic composition were determined in tholeiite and subalkaline basalts (in both whole-rock samples and individual minerals) from the Franz Josef Land Archipelago. Isotopic data obtained for the Arctic basin are similar to those for islands from the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. The assimilation of crustal (sedimentary) rocks by primary depleted material makes isochron determination of basalt age difficult or impossible. The subalkaline basalts (basaltic andesites) were presumably formed by the metasomatic introduction of incompatible elements in tholeiitic basalts and, only partially, through crustal contamination and fractional crystallization.     

Dynamics and energetics of the thermal and nonthermal components in the solar flare of January 20, 2005, based on data from hard electromagnetic radiation detectors onboard the CORONAS-F satellite

Based on data from the SONG and SPR-N multichannel hard electromagnetic radiation detectors onboard the CORONAS-F space observatory and the X-ray monitors onboard GOES satellites, we have distinguished the thermal and nonthermal components in the X-ray spectrum of an extreme solar flare on January 20, 2005. In the impulsive flare phase determined from the time of the most efficient electron and proton acceleration, we have obtained parameters of the spectra for both components and their variations in the time interval 06:43–06:54 UT. The spectral index in the energy range 0.2–2 MeV for a single-power-law spectrum of accelerated electrons is shown to have been close to 3.4 for most of the time interval under consideration. We have determined the time dependence of the lower energy cutoff in the energy spectrum of nonthermal photons E _γ0(t) at which the spectral flux densities of the thermal and nonthermal components become equal. The power deposited by accelerated electrons into the flare volume has been estimated using the thick-target model under two assumptions about the boundary energy E ₀ of the electron spectrum: (i) E ₀ is determined by E _γ0(t) and (ii) E ₀ is determined by the characteristic heated plasma energy (≈5kT (t)). The reality of the first assumption is proven by the fact that plasma cooling sets in at a time when the radiative losses begin to prevail over the power deposited by electrons only in this case. Comparison of the total energy deposited by electrons with a boundary energy E _γ0(t) with the thermal energy of the emitting plasma in the time interval under consideration has shown that the total energy deposited by accelerated electrons at the beginning of the impulsive flare phase before 06:47 UT exceeds the thermal plasma energy by a factor of 1.5–2; subsequently, these energies become approximately equal and are ～(4–5) × 10³⁰ erg under the assumption that the filling factor is 0.5–0.6.