Petrology of the Mecklenburg gabbro-metagabbro complex,North Carolina

The Mecklenburg complex, which crops out in the Carolina Piedmont, consists of older metagabbro and metafelsic rocks of upper amphibolite grade, and a younger postmetamorphic gabbro. On the evidence of field data and gravity measurements, the younger gabbro appears to be a plug-like body with steeply dipping contacts that may converge inward at relatively shallow depth; the pluton may extend only 8,000–15,000 feet into the subsurface.Gabbroic rocks contain plagioclase, olivine, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, hornblende, and biotite, and display hypidiomorphic textures characterized by numerous reaction relations among the mafic phases; hydrous minerals are commonly abundant, comprising up to 37% of the rock, and indicate the fugacity of H₂O was relatively high during primary crystallization. In contrast metagabbro lacks olivine and exhibits textures that range from relict igneous varieties to crystalloblastic types that appear to represent equilibrium assemblages. A less common metagabbro type, associated with local zones of deformation, is characterized by faint banding and only trace amounts of anhydrous mafics. Varieties of metagabbro are complexly intermingled in the field, and resultant assemblages and textures largely reflect whole-rock composition and differences in initial H₂O contents, slightly modified locally by addition of fluid along favorable channelways.In general metagabbro is slightly higher in TiO₂, Na₂O, and K₂O, and lower in MgO relative to gabbro; regardless of the degree of recrystallization, the chemistry of the various metagabbro types is nearly identical, thus indicating metamorphism was essentially isochemical.     

Coupled motion of rigid bodies about their center of mass

A study is made of the motion of a system consisting of two rigid bodies coupled by a massless rigid boom. Relative translational and rotational motions are examined with the assumption that no external forces are acting on the system. For specific sets of initial conditions and assumptions on the symmetries of the two bodies, nontrivial analytic solutions are observed. The stability and the internal torques are also examined for a few selected cases.This research was conducted while the author was a senior research associate of the National Research Council at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center.     

HST Observations of Sakurai's Object (V4334 Sgr) and Related Stars

We describe our ongoing program of HST observations of Sakurai's Object(V4334 Sgr). Direct WFPC2 imaging from August 1996 through August 2000 revealsno transient features (such as light echoes), and documents the decline of thestar to below 24th visual magnitude in 2000. The surrounding planetary nebulahas shown no changes from 1996 through 2000. There are no obvious peculiarfeatures (such as blobs or knots) in the immediate vicinity of the star. Wealso have in place a target-of-opportunity program to obtain UV spectra withHST in the event that the star begins to retrace its evolution back to highsurface temperature. We also present older HST FOC imaging of V605 Aql. The central object is aresolved nebula that emits in [O III] (but not in hydrogen), whose 0.6diameter is consistent with a dust cloud ejected during the 1919 outburst. Thecentral star itself is not seen due to its being embedded in the nebula.Several other central stars (including H 3-75, IC 2120, and Abell 14) havelate-type nuclei and no evidence for hot companions. They may be furthercandidates for born-again red-giant nuclei.     

Mobile Pb-isotopes in Proterozoic sedimentary basins as guides for exploration of uranium deposits

Lead isotope ratios and associated trace element concentrations (U, Th and Pb) extracted by partial-leaching with 2% nitric acid from Proterozoic sandstones and basement rocks reveal much about the fluid evolution of sedimentary basins hosting unconformity-type uranium deposits. In addition, these techniques have great potential as a guide for exploration of uranium and other types of deposits in basins of any age. Isotope ratios of Pb in Proterozoic sandstones from basins known to contain high-grade uranium deposits are radiogenic at key geological localities and settings distal to known mineralization and particularly in altered zones proximal to mineralization. Sandstones completely cemented by quartz overgrowths typically have non-radiogenic Pb isotope ratios, indicating early closure of porosity and isolation of these rocks from later fluid events. Alternatively, the unconformity served as both a source of uranium and radiogenic Pb as well as an avenue for late-stage (<250–900 Ma) fluid flow. The mafic volcanic units, which are relatively reducing lithologies and therefore have removed uranium from basinal brines, have uranium-supported radiogenic Pb isotope ratios. Comparison of ²³⁸U/²⁰⁶Pb and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios is useful in determining the timing and nature of U and Pb migration before, during and after mineralization in these basins. This comparison can be used to delineate the presence of radiogenic Pb isotope ratios that are not internally supported by uranium and thorium in rocks, eventually providing the explorationist with geochemical vectors that point toward sites of high potential for economic uranium mineralization.     

Laboratory simulations of coastally trapped waves with rotation, topography and stratification

We describe observations of the generation and propagation of coastally trapped waves in the laboratory and their comparison with theory, over a range of values of several experimental parameters. The topography and stratification used consisted of a sloping continental shelf and vertical continental slope with three-layer stratification that could be approximated by an extended version of the Gill and Clarke model [Gill, A.E., Clarke, A., 1974. Wind-induced upwelling, coastal currents and sea level changes. Deep Sea Res. 21, 325–345]. The latter was modified to accommodate a central mixed layer, curved geometry, and friction on the shelf. This configuration represents coastal geometry with large Burger number. The experiments were successful in realizing coastally trapped waves that were consistent with the theoretical expectations. However, the waves propagated more slowly, and for narrow shelves were damped more rapidly than predicted by the theory. The first was attributed to: (i) the effect of stratification on fluid on the shelf, reducing the topographic Rossby wave effect; (ii) the parameterization of the viscosity. The second difference was attributed to the mechanism of generation: the paddle used did not always generate sinusoidal waves, and the subsequent dispersion resulted in a net loss of amplitude.     

Diffusion Samplers as an Inexpensive Approach to Monitoring VOCs in Ground Water

Diffusion samplers installed in observation wells were found to be capable of yielding polyethylene to transmit other volatile compounds, such as benzene and toluene, indicates that the samplers can be used for a variety of volatile organic compounds. In wells at the study area, the volatile organic compound concentrations in water samples obtained using the samplers without prior purging were similar to concentrations in water samples obtained from the respective wells using traditional purging and sampling approaches. The low cost associated with this approach makes it a viable option for monitoring large observation-well networks for volatile organic compounds.     

Rectified flow along a vertical coastline

Laboratory experiments are conducted on a physical system in which an oscillatory, along-shore, free stream flow of a homogeneous fluid occurs in the vicinity of a long coastline with vertical slope; the model sea-floor is horizontal. Particular attention is given to the resulting rectified (mean) current which is along the coastline with the shore on the right, facing downstream. In the lateral far field region defined by (1), where y is the offshore coordinate and H is the depth of the fluid, the motion field is approximately independent of the lateral distance from the coast. The vertical structure of the cross-stream motion in this region consists of Ekman layers near the sea-floor and interior adjustment flows, both periodic in time. In the near field, defined by (1), the motion is strongly dependent on the cross-stream coordinate as well as time, and rectified currents are observed. The mechanism responsible for the rectification is a complex nonlinear coupling between laterally directed adjustment flows driven by the transport in the bottom Ekman layers, and the free stream motion field. The rectified current is found to be substantially wider than the Stewartson layer thickness but much narrower than the Rossby deformation radius. The characteristic width, δ_y, of the rectified current is shown to scale as , where Ro is the Rossby number Ro_t is the temporal Rossby number and E is the Ekman number. Experiments are presented which support this scaling.     

Biomass composition and methods for the determination of metabolic reserve polymers in phototrophic sulfur bacteria

To study nutrient fluxes within aquatic ecosystems, the synthesis of biomass and of various storage polymers has been analysed in samples from a meromictic alpine lake. Methods are described for the quantitative determination of whole cell biomass, glycogen, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) and sulfur. Methods were adapted to conditions present in natural environments and tested with samples from blooms of Chromatiaceae and with corresponding laboratory cultures. Dried bacterioplankton-biomass has been analyzed for sulfur, glycogen and polyhydroxyalkanoates, and after complete oxidation for SO ₄ ^2- , NO ₃ ^- and HPO ₄ ^2- . The average elemental composition of biomass from phototrophic sulfur bacteria, depleted of sulfur and carbon storage compounds, was C₃₈₀H₅₈₀O₁₅₃N₆₇P₃S_2.5M, where M stands for the content of the remaining minor elements. C, H, O, N, P and S accounted for 86.7% of the total dry mass. Storage sulfur in natural populations was equivalent to 2.5% to 13.5% of the dry mass; its content varied by 80% within a diurnal cycle. Glycogen contents fluctuated by approximately 50%; they accounted for 7.5% to 15.2% of the dry cell mass. The total content of reserve materials per cell never exceeded 30% of the dry mass. PHA had not been found in appreciable amounts in cells harvested from the natural lake habitat. Under certain conditions in the laboratoryChromatium okenii could be induced, however, to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates. Sulfur, glycogen and PHA contents of 33, 26 and 11%, respectively, were achieved under laboratory-culture conditions. Cells with up to 60% of their dry mass consisting of reserve materials can be obtained under selected laboratory conditions.     

Comments on “Composition and depth of origin of primary mid-ocean ridge basalts” by D.C. Presnall and J.D. Hoover

Presnall and Hoover (1984), in their evaluation of the nature of primary mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORBs), concluded that earlier data suggesting many of the most primitive MORBs are derived from high-MgO (picritic) magmas are not valid. In reaching this conclusion, Presnall and Hoover (1984) ignore several important considerations regarding 1. analytical uncertainties, 2. TiO₂abundances in MORBs, 3. least-squares calculations, 4. complex models of magmatic evolution and 5. enstatite saturation. I briefly discuss these points below.     

Changes in the patterns of contact between anglophones and francophones in Quebec

When Britain assumed responsibility for the French Colonies in North America (1763) the French (francophones) were concentrated in the St. Lawrence Lowlands. Subsequent settlements by British and American colonists (anglophones) were guided by government policy, economic opportunities, and political events. The outcome was a mixture of anglophone settlers initially, as intended, developing around the lowland French but subsequently evolving to a peripheral location. Crowded conditions forced the francophones to move into this peripheral area as well. Through these processes a cultural zone of transition evolved between Quebec and her neighbouring provinces. Contact between the two ethnic groups within this zone, however, has not led to integration but moreso to a cultural division. In this situation it has been generally the francophone who has accommodated to the anglophone for required social and vocational interaction. Through the application of the index of language intensity assessment of the impact of recent sociopolitical policies upon this traditional pattern has been made. In the past decade anglophones have been leaving Quebec at an accelerated rate. Those remaining have an opportunity to increase the processes of interaction and integration with the francophone society and, it is theorized, will do so if a negative attitude among the youth toward a future in the province can be overcome.