Primary divisibility of the protolithosphere and current tectonic divisibility of lithospheric blocks: New reconstructions

The layer forming the Earth’s solid cover is considered to be a uniformly cooling mantle body of low viscosity involved in the convection process. Its cooling is accompanied by the formation of Rayleigh–Benard cells transformed into primary blocks. Their dimensions and dynamics in the subsequent evolution of the Earth’s lithosphere were repeatedly disturbed by superglobal geodynamic cycles involving changes in the area and dynamics of the blocks, some of which were partially absorbed by the mantle, while others were generated for the first time up to the current state. The variably ranked lithosphere blocks transformed into linear dimensions were arranged in a logical series of lithosphere destruction: from convection of the cooling Earth and initial block divisibility of the protolithosphere to its recent plate tectonics and intensive variably ranked fragmentation and fracturing of the plates under the conditions of solid body fragmentation. Convection in the mantle is a genetic endogenic source of the first protolithosphere divisibility. Megablock and subsequent lithosphere divisibility are consistent with the process of crushing of a solid body.     

Geochemical features of the utilization of buried wastes of the Tyrnyauz Tungsten–Molybdenum Plant using acid leaching

The decontamination of buried wastes of the Tyrnyauz Tungsten–Molybdenum Plant is complicated by the geochemical features of the waste composition: low sulfide and high carbonate content, polyelemental composition, and considerable amounts of technogenic admixtures (kerosene, oils, soda, and soluble glasses). These circumstances result in sufficient complication of the suggested technology of waste treatment, including the sulfuric-acid leaching and separate sorption recovery of hazardous and useful elements from the working solution.     

Suprathermal ions in solar-wind outflows from coronal holes at 1 AU

The energy spectra and relative abundances of ³He, ⁴He, C, O, and Fe ions with energies of ~0.04–2 MeV/nucleon are studied using data from the ULEIS instrument on board the ACE spacecraft obtained during quiescent periods in 2006–2012. During the unique, prolonged minimum between cycles 23 and 24, 35 quiescent periods were distnguished, during which solar-wind flows from near-equatorial coronal holes (CHs) were detected. It is shown that the C/O and Fe/O ratios for suprathermal ions correspond to the relative abundances of the corresponding thermal ions in the fast and slow (Maxwellian) solar wind (SWICS/ACE), while the ⁴He/O ratio exceeds the corresponding ratio in the solar wind by a factor of two. The intensities of the ³He, ⁴He, C, O, and Fe suprathermal ions in outflows from CHs grow with the speed of the solar wind. This indicates that, in periods ofminimumsolar activity, suprathermal ions from CHs represent a high-temperature “tail” of the solar wind. An additional flux of suprathermal helium ions may also be contributed by other external sources.     

Evidence for a relationship between emerging magnetic fields,electric currents,and solar flares observed on May 10, 2012

Multi-wavelength observations and magnetic-field data for the solar flare of May 10, 2012 (04: 18 UT) are analyzed. A sign change in the line-of-sight magnetic field in the umbra of a small spot has been detected. This is at least partly associated with the emergence of a new magnetic field. A hard X-ray flare was recorded at almost the same time, and a “sunquake” was generated by the impact of the disturbance in the range of energy release on the photosphere. A sigmoid flare was recorded at the beginning of the event, but did not spread, as it usually does, along the polarity inversion (neutral) line. SDO/HMI full vectormagnetic-fieldmeasurements are used to extrapolate the magnetic field of AR 11476 into the corona, and to derive the distribution of vertical currents jz in the photosphere. The relationship between the distribution of currents in the active region and the occurrence of flares is quite complex. The expected “ideal” behavior of the current system before and after the flare (e.g., described by Sharykin and Kosovichev) is observed only in the sigmoid region. The results obtained are compared with observations of two other flares recorded in this active region on the same day, one similar to the discussed flare and the other different. The results confirm that the formation and eruption of large-scale magnetic flux ropes in sigmoid flares is associated with shear motions in the photosphere, the emergence of twisted magnetic tubes, and the subsequent development of the torus instability.     

Gas–oil fluids in the formation of travertines in the Baikal rift zone

Active participation of gas–oil fluids in the processes of mineral formation and petrogenesis in travertines of the Arshan and Garga hot springs is substantiated. The parageneses of the products of pyrolytic decomposition and oxidation of the gas–oil components of hydrothermal fluids (amorphous bitumen, graphite-like CM, and graphite) with different genetic groups of minerals crystallized in a wide range of P–T conditions were established. Travertines of the Baikal rift zone were formed from multicomponent hydrous–gas–oil fluids by the following basic mechanisms of mineral formation: chemogenic, biogenic, cavitation, fluid pyrometamorphism, and pyrolysis.     

New data on mammoth fauna mammals in the central Lena River basin (Yakutia,Lenskie Stolby National Nature Park and adjacent areas)

This paper considers the data on new findings of mammoth fauna remains in the Middle Lena basin used to specify the species composition of large Late Neopleistocene mammals represented by eleven species. The obtained range of radiocarbon dates made it possible to state that mass burials of Pleistocene mammal remains were formed in the region during the Karginsk Interstadial (24 000–55 000 years ago).     

Neoproterozoic granitoids on Wrangel Island

Based on geochronological U–Pb studies, the age of Wrangel Island granitoids was estimated as Neoproterozoic (Cryogenian). Some granitoids contain zircons with inherited cores with an estimated age of 1010, 1170, 1200, and >2600 Ma, assuming the presence of ancient (Neoarchean–Mesoproterozoic) rocks in the Wrangel Island foundation and their involvement in partial melting under granitoid magma formation.     

Technogenic-tectonic earthquakes of the Dnieper–Donets aulacogen

The Mikhnevo Seismic Group of the Institute of Geosphere Dynamics, Russian Academy of Sciences (IGD RAS), and the Malin mini-group in the region of the Dnieper–Donets aulacogen, within which prospecting and mountain-explosion works were carried out from 2007 to 2015 on industrial scales, recorded a series of seismic events. Special attention has been focused on analysis of the nature of three earthquakes in 2015. Application of the spectral discrimination method log(Pg/Lg) and cross-correlation tools allowed us to identify the seismic events in 2015 as a special technogenic-tectonic type.     

Nature of the macroseismic paradox of the deep-focus earthquake in the Sea of Okhotsk on May 24, 2013 (<Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis> <Subscript> <Emphasis Type="Italic">w</Emphasis> </Subscript> = 8.3)

We analyzed macroseismic data and considered the effect of extremely long range propagation of sensible shocks during the deep-focus earthquake in the Sea of Okhotsk on May 24, 2013 (M_w = 8.3). In order to explain this effect, we formulated and qualitatively solved the problem of superposition of P-waves over the radial mode ₀S₀ of the natural oscillations of the Earth during this earthquake. Our results confirmed the possibility of such an interpretation of the observed macroseismic effect and also allowed us to explain the fact of anomalously low decay of seismic disturbances with distance.     

Luminescent properties of natural barite: Evidence for its genesis

The study of radiation of intrinsic and impurity excitations in natural barite showed that the patterns of BaSO₄ luminescence were mostly controlled by the presence of the [SO₄] anion complex. Several types of self-radiation were registered including those at the expense of the presence of O^2– ions of the axial and nonaxial configurations of the anionic group (emission bands within the wavelength ranges of 209–213 and 330–350 nm, respectively). Exitons located near the impurity and intrinsic defects largely participate in emission. Impurity defects participating in the luminescent centers of barite from the Ore Altai include Pb²⁺, Gd³⁺, Eu²⁺, Eu³⁺, Cu⁺, and Ag⁺ (under X-ray excitation). Variations in the spectral composition of barite indicate the different conditions of its formation.