Determination of Stress State from Focal Mechanisms of Microseismic Events Induced During Hydraulic Injection at the Hijiori Hot Dry Rock Site

—?The stress state at the Hijiori hot dry rock site was estimated based on the inversion from focal mechanisms of microseismic events induced during hydraulic injection experiments. The best fit stress model obtained by inverting 58 focal mechanisms of seismic events simultaneously indicates that the maximum principal stress σ₁ is vertical, while the minimum principal stress σ₃ is horizontal and trends north-south. The average misfit between the stress model and all the data is 6.8°. The inversion results show that the average misfit is small enough to satisfy the assumption of homogeneity in the focal mechanism data and that the 95% confidence regions of σ₁ and σ₃ are well constrained, i.e., they do not overlap, suggesting that the inversion results are acceptable. The stress estimates obtained by the focal mechanism inversion essentially agree with other stress estimates previously obtained. It is therefore concluded that the focal mechanism inversion method provides a useful tool for estimating the stress state. The hypocentral distributions of microseismic events associated with the hydraulic fracturing experiments are distributed around the plane that spreads to almost east–west from the injection wells and declines to the north at a high angle. The vertical orientation and east–west strike of the seismic events are essentially coplanar with the caldera ring-fault structure in the southern portion of the Hijiori Caldera. This indicates that tensile fractures of intact rock were not being created, but pre-existing fractures were being re-opened and developed in the direction of the maximum horizontal principal stress, although microseismic events were caused by shear failures.     

Three-year investigations into sperm whale-fall ecosystems in Japan

We report the first study of sperm whale‐fall ecosystems, based on mass sinking of whale carcasses at shelf depths in the northwest Pacific. We conducted three observations over a 2‐year period on replicate sperm‐whale carcasses implanted at depths of 219–254 m off the southern part of Japan from July 2003 to August 2005. The study was made possible by a mass stranding of sperm whales in January 2002, and the subsequent sinking of 12 carcasses in the waters off Cape Nomamisaki. Dense aggregations of unique chemosynthesis‐based fauna had formed around the whale carcasses after 18 months (July 2003). The mytilid mussel Adipicola pacifica was the most abundant macrofaunal species and covered most of the exposed bone surfaces. The general composition of the fauna was similar to that of deep‐water reducing habitats, but none of the species appearing in this study has been found at hydrothermal vents, cold seeps or deep‐water whale falls. A new species of lancelet, which was the first record of the subphylum Cephalochordata from reducing environments, a new species of Osedax; a rarely encountered benthic ctenophore, and a rare gastropod species were discovered at this sperm whale‐fall site. Benthic communities were similar across all the carcasses studied, although the body sizes of the whales were very different. The succession of epifaunal communities was relatively rapid and the sulphophilic stage was considerably shorter than that of other known whale falls.     

Hydrothermal Alteration and Mineralization of Middle Jurassic Dexing Porphyry Cu-Mo Deposit, Southeast China

The Dexing deposit is located in a NE‐trending magmatic belt along the southeastern margin of the Yangtze Craton. It is the largest porphyry copper deposit in China, consisting of three porphyry copper orebodies of Zhushahong, Tongchang and Fujiawu from northwest to southeast. It contains 1168 Mt of ores with 0.5% Cu and 0.01% Mo. The Dexing deposit is hosted by Middle Jurassic granodiorite porphyries and pelitic schist of Proterozoic age. The Tongchang granodiorite porphyry has a medium K cal‐alkaline series, with medium K₂O content (1.94–2.07 wt%), and low K₂O/(Na₂O + K₂O) (0.33–0.84) ratios. They have high large‐ion lithophile elements, high light rare‐earth elements, and low high‐field‐strength elements. The hydrothermal alteration at Tongchang is divided into four alteration mineral assemblages and related vein systems. They are early K‐feldspar alteration and A vein; transitional (chlorite + illite) alteration and B vein; late phyllic (quartz + muscovite) alteration and D vein; and latest carbonate, sulfate and oxide alteration and hematite veins. Primary fluid inclusions in quartz from phyllic alteration assemblage include liquid‐rich (type 1), vapor‐rich (type 2) and halite‐bearing ones (type 3). These provide trapping pressures of 20–400 ´ 10⁵ Pa of fluids responsible for the formation of D veins. Igneous biotite from least altered granochiorite porphyry and hydrothermal muscovite in mineralized granodiorite porphyry possess δ¹⁸O and δD values of 4.6‰ and ?87‰ for biotite and 7.1–8.9‰, ?71 to ?73‰ for muscovite. Stable isotopic composition of the hydrothermal water suggests a magmatic origin. The carbon and oxygen isotope for hydrothermal calcite are ?4.8 to ?6.2‰ and 6.8–18.8‰, respectively. The δ³⁴S of pyrite in quartz vein ranges from ?0.1 to 3‰, whereas δ³⁴S for chalcopyrite in calcite veins ranges from 4 to 5‰. These are similar to the results of previous studies, and suggest a magmatic origin for sulfur. Results from alteration assemblages and vein system observation, as well as geochemical, fluid inclusion, stable isotope studies indicate that the involvement of hydrothermal fluids exsolved from a crystallizing melt are responsible for the formation of Tongchang porphyry Cu‐Mo orebodies in Dexing porphyry deposit.     

Inclined single piles under vertical loadings in cohesionless soil

Physical-scaled model testing under 1 g conditions is carried out in obtaining the vertical response of fixed head floating-inclined single piles embedded in dry sand. Practical pile inclinations of 5° and 10° besides a vertical pile (0°) subjected to static and dynamic vertical pile head loadings are considered. To account for the effects of soil nonlinearity as well as the soil–pile interface nonlinearity on the response of piles, a range of low-to-high magnitude of pile head displacements is considered for the static case while a varying amplitude of harmonic accelerations for a wide range of frequencies is considered for the dynamic case. Experimental results are obtained in the form of pile head stiffnesses and strains generated in the pile under both the static and dynamic loadings. Results suggest that the nonlinear behavior of soil as well as the nonlinearity generated at the interface between the soil and the pile as the result of applied loading considerably affect the response of piles. The soil–pile interface nonlinearity that governs the slippage of pile shows a clear influence on the pile head stiffnesses by providing two distinct values of stiffnesses corresponding to the push and the pull directional movement of piles; the two values are significantly different. Axial and bending strains generated in the piles show expected dependency on the amplitude of applied loading; the pile head-level bending strain increases almost linearly with the increase in the angle of pile inclination.

     

Coastal upwelling along the north coast of Papua New Guinea and El Niño events during 1981–2005

We investigate the relationship between sea surface temperature (SST) cooling and upwelling along Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) north coast before the onset of El Niño events using a hindcast experiment with a high-resolution ocean general circulation model. Coastal upwelling and related SST cooling appear along PNG north coast during the boreal winter before the onsets of six El Niño events occurring during 1981–2005. Relatively cool SSTs appear along PNG north coast during that time, when anomalous northwesterly surface wind stress, which can cause coastal upwelling by offshore Ekman transport appearing over the region. In addition, anomalous cooling tendencies of SST are observed, accompanying anomalous upward velocities at the base of the mixed layer and shallow anomalies of 27°C isotherm depth. It is also shown that entrainment cooling plays an important role in the cooling of the mixed layer temperature in this region.     

Visible and near-infrared spectral survey of Martian meteorites stored at the National Institute of Polar Research

Martian meteorite chip samples stored at the National Institute of Polar Research (NIPR) have been studied by a visible and near-infrared (VNIR) spectrometer. Measured spots are about 3 × 2 mm in size, which are clearly marked on photographs of the meteorite chips. Rock types and approximate mineral compositions of studied meteorites have been identified or obtained through this spectral survey with no sample preparation required. This study demonstrates that this kind of spectral survey is effective in classifying and describing Marian meteorites, and that such a VNIR spectrometer on a Mars rover would be useful for identifying these kinds of unaltered Mars rocks. Further studies which utilize a smaller spot size are desired for improving the accuracy of identifying the clasts and mineral phases in the rocks.     

Decadal variability of the Kuroshio Extension: mesoscale eddies and recirculations

An eddy-resolving multidecadal ocean model hindcast simulation is analyzed to investigate time-varying signals of the two recirculation gyres present respectively to the north and south of the Kuroshio Extension (KE) jet. The northern recirculation gyre (NRG), which has been detected at middepth recently by profiling float and moored current meter observations, is a major focus of the present study. Low-frequency variations in the intensity of the recirculation gyres are overall highly correlated with decadal variations of the KE jet induced by the basin-wide wind change. Modulation of the simulated mesoscale eddies and its relationship with the time-varying recirculation gyres are also evaluated. The simulated eddy kinetic energy in the upstream KE region is inversely correlated with the intensity of the NRG, consistent with previous observational studies. Eddy influence on the low-frequency modulation of the NRG intensity at middepth is further examined by a composite analysis of turbulent Sverdrup balance, assuming a potential vorticity balance between the mean advection and the convergent eddy fluxes during the different states of the recirculation gyre. The change in the NRG intensity is adequately explained by that inferred by the turbulent Sverdrup balance, suggesting that the eddy feedback triggers the low-frequency modulation of the NRG intensity at middepth.     

Plutonium diffusivity in compacted bentonite

Measurements on plutonium diffusivity in water-saturated compacted bentonite were carried out. Representative specimens of sodium bentonite were taken from the Tsukinuno and Kuroishi mines situated in northeast Japan. Tsukinuno bentonite was divided into three types: raw type, purified Na-type, and H-type which was prepared by treating Na-type bentonite with hydrochloric acid. Kuroishi bentonite contained chlorite as impurity. H-type bentonite was used as reference for the convenience of profile measurement in bentonite, since plutonium diffusivity in H-type bentonite was considered to be larger than that in Na-type bentonite because of low pH and low swelling pressure of H-type bentonite.

Sampled bentonite was compacted into pellets of 20 mm in diameter and 20 mm in height. Bulk densities of these specimens were 1200–1800 kg/m³ for purified Na-type and H-type bentonite and 1600 kg/m³ for raw type bentonite.

Plutonium profiles obtained in H-type bentonite can be explained by diffusion equation with constant concentration source. Diffusivity ranges from 10^-13 to 10¹² m²/s for H-type and Kuroishi impure sodium bentonite. Diffusivity in both raw type and purified Tsukinuno bentonite was was estimated to less than 10^-14 M²/s. Diffusivity in H-type bentonite showed a tendency to decrease with increasing density. Influence of in bentonite was also studied. Quartz content up to 50% or hematite content up to 1% did not influence diffusivity significantly in H-type bentonite.

The chemical species of plutonium in pore water of Na-type and H-type were estimated Pu(OH)₃^-; and PuO₂^- , respectively.     

SELENE project status

SELENE (Selenological and Engineering Explorer) project started as a joint mission of the former ISAS (Institute of Space and Astronautical Science) and the former NASDA (National Space Development Agency: the two organizations were merged into JAXA in 2002) of Japan in 1998. The launch target is rescheduled for 2006 due to delay of completion of launch vehicle, H-IIA. The SELENE project is now under a sustained design phase. The flight model components were manufactured, and the interface tests between the bus-system and the mission instruments were completed by the end of March 2004. The functional checks and calibration for the flight model components are being carried out at present. From the beginning of 2005, the final assembly tests will start.