Mass Spectrometric Isotope Dilution Analyses Of Barium in Geochemical Reference Samples

Twenty-four geochemical reference samples have been analysed far barium using the stable isotope dilution technique. These include five CRPG, ten ANRT, six Nimroc and two CCRMP samples together with the Tonalite from Tanzania, Duplicate analyses have been made in each case and our values for barium are believed to be accurate to approximately 3 %. In general, our results are in good agreement with the published data except for Nimroc samples where our data are consistently lower than the presently accepted values. No evidence of sample inhomogeneities was observed in the present work.     

Mössbauer study of Meridiani Planum,the first iron‐nickel meteorite found on the surface of Mars by the MER Opportunity

Abstract— –Meridiani Planum is the first iron meteorite found on Mars. It was discovered in 2005 by the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity (MER‐B). Mössbauer spectra (MS) of the unbrushed and brushed meteorite species were acquired in 10 degrees temperature windows in the range of 210–260 K. Earlier examinations of these MS have led to the conclusion that the meteorite, which contains ～～7 wt% Ni, belongs to the IAB meteorite group. Here, making use of a recently developed calibration/folding procedure for MER MS, we report the results of the MS analyses for the single temperature windows m5 (210–220 K), m6 (220–230 K), m7 (230–240 K), and m89 (240–260 K). All spectra consist of a sextet and a ferric doublet. The hyperfine field of the sextet, extrapolated to room temperature, is ～～34.5 T, which is, based on Mössbauer studies of meteorites found on Earth, indeed consistent with the presence of kamacite. The fractional spectral area of the sextet is ～～0.96 of the total spectrum. The ferric doublet has an average quadrupole splitting of 0.70 mm/s and is not diagnostic of any specific Fe mineral.     

P–T–t evolution and textural evidence for decompression of Pan-African high-pressure granulites, Lurio Belt, north-eastern Mozambique

Pan‐African high‐pressure granulites occur as boudins and layers in the Lurio Belt in north‐eastern Mozambique, eastern Africa. Mafic granulites contain the mineral assemblage garnet + clinopyroxene + plagioclase + quartz ± magnesiohastingsite. Garnet porphyroblasts are zoned with increasing almandine and spessartine contents and decreasing grossular and pyrope contents from core (Alm₄₆Prp₃₂Grs₂₁Sps₂) to rim (Alm₅₂Prp₂₆Grs₁₉Sps₃). This pattern is interpreted as a retrograde diffusion zoning with the preserved core chemistry representing the peak metamorphic composition. Mineral reaction textures occur in the form of monomineralic and composite plagioclase ± orthopyroxene ± amphibole ± biotite ± magnetite coronas around garnet porphyroblasts. Thermobarometry indicates peak metamorphic conditions of up to 1.57 ± 0.14 GPa and 949 ± 92 °C (stage I), corresponding to crustal depths of ～55 km. Zircon yielded an U–Pb age of 557 ± 16 Ma, inferred to date crystallization of zircon during peak or immediately post‐peak metamorphism. Formation of plagioclase + orthopyroxene‐bearing coronas surrounding garnet indicates a near‐isothermal decompression of the high‐pressure granulites to lower pressure granulite facies conditions (stage II). Development of plagioclase + amphibole‐coronas enclosing the same garnet porphyroblasts shows subsequent cooling into amphibolite facies conditions (stage III). Symplectitic textures of the corona assemblages indicate rapid decompression. The high‐pressure granulite facies metamorphism of the Lurio Belt, followed by near‐isothermal decompression and subsequent cooling, is in accordance with a long‐lived tectonic history accompanied by high magmatic activity in the Lurio Belt during the late Neoproterozoic–early Palaeozoic East‐African–Antarctic orogeny.     

孟加拉湾超级风暴费林对西藏强降水的影响分析

利用NCEP/NCAR(2.5°×2.5°)再分析资料和常规、非常规观测资料,通过环境场和中尺度特征较全面细致地分析了孟加拉湾风暴费林（Phailin）对西藏特大暴雪的影响。研究表明：“费林”对强降水的影响主要是登陆减弱为低压后,低压云系分两个阶段形成三个中尺度对流云团,对流云团在南支槽的作用下上高原。而强降水的发生和南风风速的大小有直接的对应关系,西南低空急流建立后西藏南部才出现强降水,而低空急流的建立是靠南支槽的贡献。南风风速和强降水的这一重要关系为此类天气提供了预报着眼点。     

A Critical Appraisal of the Global Warming Debate

Major changes are occurring in the global warming debate. Popular alarmist views are giving way to more balanced assessments of the situation. There is now greater emphasis on the lack of consensus among climatologists on fundamental scientific issues related to climate change.     

Coupling forward modelling of garnet growth with monazite geochronology: an application to the Rappold Complex (Austroalpine crystalline basement)

Results from forward modelling of garnet growth and U–Th–Pb chemical dating suggest three periods of metamorphism that affected metapelitic rocks of the Rappold Complex (Eastern European Alps). Garnet first grew during Barrovian-type metamorphism, possibly during the Carboniferous Variscan orogeny. The second period of metamorphism produced monazite and resulted in minor garnet growth in some samples. Variable garnet growth was controlled by changes to the effective bulk rock composition resulting from resorption of older garnet porphyroblasts. Monazite crystals have variable morphology, textures and composition, but all yield Permian ages (267 ± 12 to 274 ± 17 Ma). In samples in which there was Permian garnet growth, monazite forms isolated and randomly distributed grains. In other samples, monazite formed pseudomorphous clusters after allanite. This difference is attributed to higher transport rates of monazite-forming elements in samples which underwent dehydration reactions during renewed garnet growth. The third and final period of garnet growth took place during Eo-Alpine (Cretaceous) metamorphism. Garnet of this age displays a wart-like texture. This may reflect transport-limited growth, possibly as a result of repeated dehydration during polyphase metamorphism.     

New, high-precision P–T estimates for Oman blueschists: implications for obduction, nappe stacking and exhumation processes

Oman blueschists and eclogites lie below the obduction nappe of the Semail ophiolite in one of the key areas on Earth for the study of plate convergence. Here new metamorphic and tectonic constraints are provided for the central, yet poorly constrained Hulw unit, sandwiched between the low‐grade units (～10 kbar, <300 °C) and the As Sifah eclogites (P_max ～ 23 kbar; T_max ～ 600 °C). TWEEQU multi‐equilibrium thermobarometry, using both compositional mapping and spot analyses, and Raman spectroscopy of carbonaceous material yield a high‐precision P–T path for the Hulw and As Sheikh units and reveal that they shared a common P–T history in four stages: (i) a pressure decrease from 10–12 kbar, 250–300 °C to 7–9 kbar, 300–350 °C; (ii) almost isobaric heating at ～8–10 kbar from 300–350 °C to 450–500 °C; (iii) a pressure decrease at moderate temperatures (～450–500 °C); and (iv) isobaric cooling at ～5–6 kbar from 450–500 to 300 °C. No significant pressure or temperature gap is observed across the upper plate–lower plate discontinuity to the north and west of the Hulw unit. The combination of tectonic and P–T data constrains the stacking chronology of the three main metamorphic units comprising the Saih Hatat window (i.e. the Ruwi‐Quryat, the Hulw‐As Sheikh and the Diqdah‐As Sifah units). These results strengthen the view that the tectonic and metamorphic data are conveniently accounted for by a simple, N‐vergent continental subduction of the passive Arabian margin below the obduction nappe along a cold P–T gradient.